T81.4
Non-Billable

Infection following a procedure

Non-Billable / Non-Specific Code

What is Infection following a procedure?

ICD-10-CM T81.4 is the diagnosis code for Infection following a procedure. This code falls under the section "Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified" within Chapter 19 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88). It is a non-billable/non-specific ICD-10-CM code that should not be used for reimbursement. A more specific sub-code is required for billing. Medical coders and healthcare providers use this code to document and classify diagnoses in electronic health records, insurance claims, and clinical databases.

💡 Inclusions
â„šī¸ Excludes2

Coding Guidelines for T81.4

✅ This Code Includes

  • Wound abscess following a procedure

â„šī¸ Type 2 Excludes (Code separately if applicable)

The following conditions are not included in T81.4. If the patient has both, code each condition separately:

  • bleb associated endophthalmitis (H59.4-)
  • infection due to infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.2-)
  • infection due to prosthetic devices, implants and grafts (T82.6-T82.7, T83.5-T83.6, T84.5-T84.7, T85.7)
  • obstetric surgical wound infection (O86.0-)
  • postprocedural fever NOS (R50.82)
  • postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess (K68.11)

ICD-10-CM Code Hierarchy

Understanding where T81.4 sits in the ICD-10-CM classification helps ensure proper coding:

Sub-Codes 6 entries
T81.40Infection following a procedure, unspecifiedBillableT81.41Infection following a procedure, superficial incisional surgical siteBillableT81.42Infection following a procedure, deep incisional surgical siteBillableT81.43Infection following a procedure, organ and space surgical siteBillableT81.44Sepsis following a procedureBillableT81.49Infection following a procedure, other surgical siteBillable
Related Codes

Frequently Asked Questions

Is T81.4 a billable ICD-10-CM code?

No, T81.4 is a non-billable/non-specific code. You should use a more specific sub-code for billing and reimbursement.

What does T81.4 mean?

T81.4 is the ICD-10-CM diagnosis code for "Infection following a procedure". It is used by healthcare providers to classify and document this condition in medical records and insurance claims.

What is the parent code of T81.4?

The parent code of T81.4 is T81 ("Complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified"). T81.4 provides a more specific classification within this category.

What section is T81.4 in?

T81.4 is located in Section T80-T88 — "Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified" within Chapter 19 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.

What are the sub-codes of T81.4?

T81.4 has 6 sub-code(s) that provide more specific detail: T81.40, T81.41, T81.42, T81.43, T81.44 and more.

When should I use T81.4?

Use T81.4 when the patients documented diagnosis matches "Infection following a procedure" and the clinical documentation supports this level of specificity. Always verify with the latest ICD-10-CM guidelines and payer requirements.

People Also Ask

What is the ICD-10 code for Infection following a procedure?

The ICD-10-CM code for Infection following a procedure is T81.4.

Can T81.4 be used for primary diagnosis?

No, T81.4 is non-billable. Use a more specific sub-code for primary diagnosis billing.

What chapter is T81.4 in?

T81.4 is in Chapter 19 of the ICD-10-CM Tabular List.

Is T81.4 valid for 2026?

Yes, T81.4 is a valid ICD-10-CM code for the 2026 fiscal year, subject to official CMS updates.

See Also

← PreviousT81.33Disruption of traumatic injury wound repairNext →T81.40Infection following a procedure, unspecified
Code Details
T81.4
Infection following a procedure
Non-Billable / Non-Specific Code
19 — Injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes (S00-T88)
T80-T88 — Complications of surgical and medical care, not elsewhere classified
2026 ICD-10-CM