ICD-10 Code J15.20 – Pneumonia due to staphylococcus, unspecified (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J15.20 – Pneumonia due to staphylococcus, unspecified
What it is
This code identifies pneumonia caused by staphylococcal infection when the species is not specified in the record. Use it when the documentation confirms staphylococcus as the cause but does not name the organism.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Typical pneumonia findings may include cough, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, and imaging consistent with an infectious lung process, with staphylococcal cause noted by the provider.
When to use this code
Use J15.20 when the provider documents pneumonia due to staphylococcus and does not identify a more specific staphylococcal species. It is appropriate for confirmed bacterial pneumonia cases where the organism is recorded only as staphylococcus. If the chart names a different cause or a more specific organism, code that instead.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for pneumonia from another organism, viral pneumonia, or aspiration pneumonia. Check documentation if staphylococcal infection is mentioned without clear pneumonia involvement.
Coding tip
Code from the provider’s exact wording and avoid assuming species specificity when the record only says “staph.”