ICD-10 Code A05.9 – Bacterial foodborne intoxication, unspecified (2026): Diagnosis, Symptoms & Billing Guide
2026 ICD-10-CM Diagnosis Code A05.9 – Bacterial foodborne intoxication, unspecified
What it is
A05.9 identifies a bacterial foodborne intoxication when the specific organism or toxin is not documented. Use it for illness caused by contaminated food, with no more precise bacterial cause recorded.
Clinical signs
Clinical features vary; refer to documentation. Commonly recorded findings include acute gastrointestinal illness after eating suspect food, with nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea.
When to use this code
Use this code when the provider documents bacterial food poisoning, foodborne intoxication, or similar wording without naming the organism. It also fits cases where the chart confirms a bacterial source but lacks enough detail for a more specific code. Check documentation if the record mentions an identified pathogen.
Do not use for
Do not use A05.9 for viral or parasitic foodborne illness, or for nonspecific gastroenteritis without a documented bacterial foodborne cause. Avoid it when a more specific A05 code is supported by the record.
Coding tip
Code the most specific foodborne intoxication documented, and query when the organism or toxin is named but not clearly linked to the diagnosis.