Z16Resistance to antimicrobial drugs

Z16 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for resistance to antimicrobial drugs. It belongs to block Z16 (resistance to antimicrobial drugs) and chapter 21 (factors influencing health status and contact with health services). It is a header code, so it can't be reported by itself; one of its 3 subcodes must be used instead.

To report this condition, pick the subcode that matches the documentation: Z16.1 (antibiotics), Z16.2 (antibiotics) and Z16.3 (drugs).

Don't report Z16 together with the conditions in its Excludes1 note: Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection (A49.02), Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia (J15.212) and Sepsis due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (A41.02).

Code first: the infection.

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