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ICD-10-CM 2027 diagnosis code

R65.2Severe sepsis

Not billable — use a more specific code

R65.2 is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself. Choose one of the 2 more specific codes beneath it.

Code unchanged since ICD-10-CM took effect on October 1, 2015. Source: official FY2027 ICD-10-CM release from CDC/NCHS and CMS. Page updated September 29, 2026. About our data

About R65.2

R65.2 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for severe sepsis. It belongs to category R65 (symptoms and signs specifically associated with systemic inflammation and infection), block R50-R69 (general symptoms and signs) and chapter 18 (symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 2 subcodes must be used instead.

Within R65 (symptoms and signs specifically associated with systemic inflammation and infection), R65.2 is specifically for severe sepsis. Related codes cover systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) of non-infectious origin (R65.1).

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: R65.20 (without septic shock) and R65.21 (with septic shock).

Code first underlying infection, such as: infection following a procedure (T81.4-), infections following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.2-), puerperal sepsis (O85), sepsis following complete or unspecified spontaneous abortion (O03.87) and 4 more.

Use an additional code to identify specific acute organ dysfunction, such as: acute kidney failure (N17.-), acute respiratory failure (J96.0-), critical illness myopathy (G72.81), critical illness polyneuropathy (G62.81), disseminated intravascular coagulopathy [DIC] (D65) and 2 more.

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

Specific codes under R65.2

Coding notes

Applicable toConditions and synonyms classified to this code
  • Infection with associated acute organ dysfunction
  • Sepsis with acute organ dysfunction
  • Sepsis with multiple organ dysfunction
  • Systemic inflammatory response syndrome due to infectious process with acute organ dysfunction
Code firstSequence the underlying condition first
  • underlying infection, such as:
  • infection following a procedure (T81.4-)
  • infections following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.2-)
  • puerperal sepsis (O85)
  • sepsis following complete or unspecified spontaneous abortion (O03.87)
  • sepsis following ectopic and molar pregnancy (O08.82)
  • sepsis following incomplete spontaneous abortion (O03.37)
  • sepsis following (induced) termination of pregnancy (O04.87)
  • sepsis NOS (A41.9)
Use additional codeAdd a secondary code to fully describe the condition
  • code to identify specific acute organ dysfunction, such as:
  • acute kidney failure (N17.-)
  • acute respiratory failure (J96.0-)
  • critical illness myopathy (G72.81)
  • critical illness polyneuropathy (G62.81)
  • disseminated intravascular coagulopathy [DIC] (D65)
  • encephalopathy (metabolic) (septic) (G93.41)
  • hepatic failure (K72.0-)

Notes that apply from higher levels

Instructions written at a parent level also apply to R65.2.

Broader instructions also apply from Chapter 18: Symptoms, signs and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified.

Codes whose notes reference R65.2

Code history

  1. 2016
  2. 2017
  3. 2018
  4. 2019
  5. 2020
  6. 2021
  7. 2022
  8. 2023
  9. 2024
  10. 2025
  11. 2026
  12. 2027
  • FY2016 (effective 10/1/2015): Added (first year of ICD-10-CM)
  • No changes since FY2016.

Common questions about R65.2

Is R65.2 billable?

No. R65.2 is a header code. Report one of its more specific subcodes instead.