ICD-10 Code A05.4 – Foodborne Bacillus cereus intoxication (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A05.4 – Foodborne Bacillus cereus intoxication
What it is
A05.4 identifies food poisoning caused by Bacillus cereus toxins in contaminated food. Use it when the illness is due to toxin-mediated gastroenteritis, not a generalized infection.
Clinical signs
Typical features are acute nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, or diarrhea after eating contaminated food. Clinical features vary; refer to documentation.
When to use this code
Use A05.4 when the record documents foodborne Bacillus cereus intoxication, Bacillus cereus food poisoning, or toxin-related gastroenteritis from contaminated food. Code it for confirmed or clearly documented suspected cases when the provider identifies this organism as the cause. Check documentation if the note only says “food poisoning” without an organism.
Do not use for
Do not use this code for nonspecific gastroenteritis, other bacterial food poisonings, or infections caused by Bacillus cereus outside a foodborne intoxication picture. Check documentation.
Coding tip
Capture the organism and foodborne cause exactly as documented to avoid defaulting to an unspecified gastroenteritis code.