A48.0Gas gangrene

A48.0 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for gas gangrene. It belongs to category A48 (other bacterial diseases, not elsewhere classified), block A30-A49 (other bacterial diseases) and chapter 1 (certain infectious and parasitic diseases). It is billable, so it can be reported on its own for dates of service from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027.

Within A48 (other bacterial diseases, not elsewhere classified), A48.0 is specifically for gas gangrene. Related codes cover Legionnaires' disease (A48.1), Nonpneumonic Legionnaires' disease [Pontiac fever] (A48.2), toxic shock syndrome (A48.3), Brazilian purpuric fever (A48.4), other specified botulism (A48.5) and other specified bacterial diseases (A48.8).

As a secondary diagnosis it is an MCC (major complication or comorbidity), which can move an inpatient stay into the highest-paying "with MCC" MS-DRG of its family, unless the principal diagnosis excludes it.

In MS-DRG v44.0, it is part of the grouping logic for DRG 791 (Prematurity with Major Problems, relative weight 4.1075), DRG 793 (Full Term Neonate with Major Problems, relative weight 4.2195), DRG 867 (Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses with MCC, relative weight 2.1859), DRG 868 (Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses with CC, relative weight 1.0235) and DRG 869 (Other Infectious and Parasitic Diseases Diagnoses without CC/MCC, relative weight 0.6787), in MDC 15 (Newborns and Other Neonates with Conditions Originating in the Perinatal Period) and MDC 18 (Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Systemic or Unspecified Sites), as a principal or secondary diagnosis. The DRG a claim lands in depends on the principal diagnosis, procedures and any CC/MCC secondary diagnoses.

It has been part of ICD-10-CM since the code set took effect on October 1, 2015 and hasn't changed since.

Before ICD-10, this condition was coded in ICD-9-CM as 040.0 (gas gangrene).