ICD-10 Code J15.9 – Unspecified Bacterial Pneumonia (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code J15.9 – Unspecified bacterial pneumonia
What it is
J15.9 identifies pneumonia caused by bacteria when the organism is not specified in the record. Use it for bacterial lung infection documented without a named pathogen.
Clinical signs
Typical findings include cough, fever, shortness of breath, chest pain, and abnormal lung exam or imaging consistent with pneumonia. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use J15.9 when the provider documents bacterial pneumonia but does not identify the causative bacteria. It also fits cases where the note confirms a bacterial cause, yet the organism is not available in the final record.
Choose this code when documentation supports pneumonia and excludes viral, aspiration, or other specific causes. If the chart names a bacterium, code the more specific organism-based diagnosis instead.
Do not use for
Do not use J15.9 for pneumonia with a documented specific bacterial organism, viral pneumonia, or aspiration pneumonia. Check documentation if the cause is unclear.
Coding tip
Look for the final provider diagnosis, not just preliminary culture results, before assigning this unspecified code.