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O85 vs O98.23

O85 (Puerperal sepsis) compared with O98.23 (Gonorrhea complicating the puerperium), from the official CMS tabular data.

Current data releases:ICD-10-CM FY2027 · ICD-10-PCS FY2027 · HCPCS October 2026 · MS-DRG v44 · Medicare Code Editor v44.0 · NCCI PTP Q4 2026 · MUE Q4 2026 · NCD code lists 2026-01 · LCD export September 28, 2026 · All releases and sources

Summary

These codes can be reported together when both conditions are documented, because O98.23 lists O85 under Excludes2, which marks them as distinct conditions.

Official rule
What is different?

The conditions named.O85 is “Puerperal sepsis”; O98.23 is “Gonorrhea complicating the puerperium”.

Registry fact

Can these codes be reported together?

Yes, when both are documented.O98.23 lists O85 under Excludes2: “puerperal sepsis (O85)”. Excludes2 marks distinct conditions that may both be reported when both are documented.

Official ruleGuide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2

Is there an Excludes1 relationship?

None.Neither entry carries an Excludes1 note that names the other code. O85 carries 3 Excludes1 notes covering other codes; the side-by-side table quotes them.

Official rule

Is there an Excludes2 relationship?

Yes.O98.23’s tabular entry: “puerperal sepsis (O85)”. The note covers O85.

Official ruleGuide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2

Is one more specific?

Not comparable.The codes sit in different categories; specificity is only comparable within one category.

Is one a parent or header code?

No.Both are billable codes, and neither contains the other.

Registry fact

Are there sequencing instructions?

None.Neither entry carries a Code First or Use Additional Code note that names the other.

Official rule

Are there other coding relationships?

None found.No laterality, encounter-phase, Table of Neoplasms, Table of Drugs and Chemicals, or history-versus-active-disease relationship links these codes.

MedCoder-derived

Official rule: a tabular instructional note or a section of the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, quoted as published. Registry fact: the codes’ own published attributes (titles, billable status, position in the hierarchy, code set). MedCoder-derived: a reading MedCoder computes from those facts; it is not itself a rule. How to read the labels

Can these codes be reported together?

Informational

Excludes2 relationship

O98.23
Gonorrhea complicating the puerperium
↔
O85
Puerperal sepsis

What we found

Yes, when both are documented.O98.23 carries an Excludes2 note covering O85: “puerperal sepsis (O85)”

Excludes2 marks distinct conditions — both may be reported when both are documented.

What to review

Report both only when the documentation supports both conditions; otherwise report the one documented.

Guide: Excludes1 vs Excludes2Check these on a claim

Why it matters

An Excludes2 note means the excluded condition is not part of the code above it, but a patient can have both. Report both when both are documented.

Source / rule

CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes

Official guidance behind these answers

  • Section I.A.12.b — Excludes2 · applies to: Excludes2

    A type 2 Excludes note represents “Not included here.” An excludes2 note indicates that the condition excluded is not part of the condition represented by the code, but a patient may have both conditions at the same time. When an Excludes2 note appears under a code, it is acceptable to use both the code and the excluded code together, when appropriate.

    ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines FY2027

Quoted from the ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines for Coding and Reporting in effect for the release shown. The tabular notes above are the code-level instruction; these sections are the convention that says how such a note is applied. Source document (CMS PDF) · Release and checksum

Side by side

Similar descriptions do not make codes interchangeable. The documentation and the official instructions decide which code applies.

Official descriptionDiffers
O85

Puerperal sepsis

O98.23

Gonorrhea complicating the puerperium

StatusSame for both
Billable
Excludes1Differs
O85
  • fever of unknown origin following delivery (O86.4)
  • obstetric pyemic and septic embolism (O88.3-)
  • puerperal septic thrombophlebitis (O86.81)
O98.23

None at this code

Excludes2Differs
O85
  • genital tract infection following delivery (O86.1-)
  • sepsis during labor (O75.3)
  • urinary tract infection following delivery (O86.2-)
  • mental and behavioral disorders associated with the puerperium (F53.-)
  • obstetrical tetanus (A34)
  • puerperal osteomalacia (M83.0)
O98.23
  • herpes gestationis (O26.4-)
  • infectious carrier state (O99.82-, O99.83-)
  • obstetrical tetanus (A34)
  • puerperal infection (O86.-)
  • puerperal sepsis (O85)
  • when the reason for maternal care is that the disease is known or suspected to have affected the fetus (O35-O36)
Use additional codeDiffers
O85
  • code (B95-B97), to identify infectious agent
  • code (R65.2-) to identify severe sepsis, if applicable
O98.23
  • code (Chapter 1), to identify specific infectious or parasitic disease
CategoryDiffers
O85

Is itself a category

O98.23

O98 Maternal infectious and parasitic diseases classifiable elsewhere but complicating pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium

ChapterSame for both

O00-O9A — Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Puerperium (O00-O9A)

IncludesDiffers
O85
  • Postpartum sepsis
  • Puerperal peritonitis
  • Puerperal pyemia
O98.23
  • the listed conditions when complicating the pregnant state, when aggravated by the pregnancy, or as a reason for obstetric care

No Code first, Code also and 7th character note at either code.

Notes are the code’s own tabular entry, quoted as published. A note that names the other code is the one the verdict above rests on. In a row that differs, notes every code shares are dimmed.

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Derived from the official CMS ICD-10-CM tabular data (FY2027). A coding-rule comparison, not billing advice: payer-specific edits and medical-necessity policy are outside its scope. All data sources