ICD-10 Code J15.212 – Pneumonia due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J15.212 – Pneumonia due to Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus
What it is
This code identifies pneumonia caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, also called MRSA. Use it when the record clearly states MRSA is the cause of the lung infection.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Typical pneumonia findings may include cough, shortness of breath, fever, chest pain, and imaging consistent with lung infiltrates, with MRSA confirmed or documented as the organism.
When to use this code
Use this code when the provider documents pneumonia due to MRSA, including culture-confirmed cases or clearly stated clinical diagnoses. It may also apply when MRSA pneumonia is listed as the principal or secondary diagnosis in the encounter note.
If the chart only says pneumonia without an organism, do not assume MRSA. Check documentation for organism identification, suspected etiology, or final assessment before assigning J15.212.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for MRSA colonization, skin infection, or other MRSA infections outside the lungs. Also avoid it when pneumonia is documented without a link to MRSA.
Coding tip
Confirm that MRSA is explicitly tied to the pneumonia diagnosis; organism mention alone is not enough.