What should be assigned when documenting a current MRSA infection that lacks a combination code including the causal organism?

When documenting a current MRSA infection that lacks a combination code that includes the causal organism, it is important to assign a code for the specific condition being treated, in addition to a code that indicates the presence of the MRSA organism. The correct approach involves coding the underlying condition that is being affected by the MRSA infection and then supplementing it with the appropriate code for the MRSA organism itself, which is represented by B95.62.

This coding strategy ensures that documentation accurately represents both the condition and the infectious organism. The presence of B95.62 is crucial as it designates the diagnosis as being caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which provides clarity in the patient's health record regarding the specific infectious agent involved. This allows for a better understanding for treatment and future management of the infection.

In contrast, simply assigning only the MRSA code fails to capture the comprehensive picture of the patient's health status, and using a general infection code would not specify the causal organism involved. Therefore, the combination of codes for both the condition and MRSA (B95.62) reflects accurate clinical information and aligns with coding guidelines.