Z22.322 Carrier or suspected carrier of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
The ICD-10-CM code for Carrier or suspected carrier of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus is Z22.322 (FY2026). It is a billable, claim-ready diagnosis code.
Classification
- Section
- Z20-Z29: Persons with potential health hazards related to communicable diseases (Z20-Z29)
- Category Z22
- 26 codes (20 billable)
- FY2026 Status
- Stable since FY2024
Also Known As
ICD-10-CM Alphabetic Index entries that lead to Z22.322:
- Colonization › MRSA (Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus)
- Carrier (suspected) of › staphylococci (Methicillin susceptible) › Methicillin resistant
- Carrier (suspected) of › bacterial disease NEC › staphylococcal (Methicillin susceptible) › Methicillin resistant
- Positive › culture (nonspecific) › nose › staphylococcus (Methicillin susceptible) › Methicillin resistant
Inclusion Terms
- MRSA colonization
U.S. Hospital Utilization
- An estimated 35,960 U.S. inpatient stays in 2023 included Z22.322 among the documented diagnoses.
Source: National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, 2016–2023. National survey-weighted estimates.
Official Coding Guidelines
MSSA/MRSA colonization (Z22.321/Z22.322)(c) Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and MRSA colonization The condition or state of being colonized or carrying MSSA or MRSA is called colonization or carriage, while an individual person is described as being colonized or being a carrier. Colonization means that MSSA or MSRA is present on or in the body without necessarily causing illness. A positive MRSA colonization test might be documented by the provider as “MRSA screen positive” or “MRSA nasal swab positive”. Assign code Z22.322, Carrier or suspected carrier of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, for patients documented as having MRSA colonization. Assign code Z22.321, Carrier or suspected carrier of Methicillin susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, for patients documented as having MSSA colonization. Colonization is not necessarily indicative of a disease process or
MRSA colonization and infection—assign both colonization and infection(d) MRSA colonization and infection If a patient is documented as having both MRSA colonization and infection during a hospital admission, code Z22.322, Carrier or suspected carrier of Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and a code for the MRSA infection may both be assigned.
Source: CMS — ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting, FY2026