ICD-10 Code A05.0 – Foodborne staphylococcal intoxication (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A05.0 – Foodborne staphylococcal intoxication
What it is
This code identifies illness caused by toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus in contaminated food. It refers to food poisoning from toxin ingestion, not a staphylococcal infection.
Clinical signs
Typical features include sudden nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, and sometimes diarrhea after eating contaminated food. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation if the record does not clearly link symptoms to staphylococcal food intoxication.
When to use this code
Use A05.0 when the provider documents foodborne staphylococcal intoxication, staphylococcal food poisoning, or a similar confirmed diagnosis. Apply it when the chart supports toxin-mediated illness from food, even if the exact food source is not named. Check documentation if the note only says “gastroenteritis” or “food poisoning” without a staphylococcal cause.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for staphylococcal infection at other sites or for nonspecific vomiting and diarrhea without a documented foodborne cause. If the organism or toxin source is unclear, check documentation.
Coding tip
Code the documented toxin-mediated foodborne illness, not the bacterium alone, and verify that staphylococcal food poisoning is explicitly stated.