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A04.71 ICD-10-CM Code: Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, recurrent

Billing Status: YES. This is a valid, specific, and billable ICD-10-CM reference.

Coding at a Glance

Tabular directives
2 Excludes1

Inpatient Payment Groups (MS-DRG)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

MS-DRGs this diagnosis helps define, as principal or secondary, per the CMS ICD-10-CM/PCS MS-DRG Definitions Manual v43, Appendix B.

  • MS-DRG 371 — MAJOR GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS AND PERITONEAL INFECTIONS WITH MCC (MDC 06)
  • MS-DRG 372 — MAJOR GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS AND PERITONEAL INFECTIONS WITH CC (MDC 06)
  • MS-DRG 373 — MAJOR GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS AND PERITONEAL INFECTIONS WITHOUT CC/MCC (MDC 06)

A diagnosis appearing in a group's logic does not by itself determine the DRG assigned to a stay; the grouper uses the full claim.

Coding instructions

Official Tabular Instructional Notes: the inclusion, exclusion and sequencing notes published for A04.71 in the official ICD-10-CM tabular list, quoted as published.

Source: CMS/CDC — ICD-10-CM Tabular ListRelease: FY2026Effective: October 1, 2025

Notes without a marker are published on A04.71 itself; “inherited from” names the category or block whose note applies here.

Excludes1 — Not Coded Here

Conditions generally not reported together with this code (Excludes1) -- an error unless the two conditions are documented as unrelated to each other (ICD-10-CM Official Guidelines, Section I.A.12.a).

Source: inherited from A04

Coder workflow for A04.71

MedCoder structured workflow — derived from this code’s own official record

Before you code A04.71

  1. A04.71’s title joins a condition with an associated condition or complication. Confirm each component is documented. Where the classification presumes the link through the “with” convention, only a provider statement that the conditions are unrelated defeats it. A combination code is assigned only when it fully identifies the documented conditions; a required second code for the stage, type or manifestation is still reported when the notes ask for it (Guidelines I.B.9, I.A.15).

    Guide: Combination codes →

  2. Check the Excludes1 note: if the documentation supports a condition named there, do not simply proceed with A04.71. Excludes1 conditions are not reported together with this code unless the record shows they are unrelated (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

    See the official tabular notes

Choose the right path

  1. Does the documentation support a condition named in A04.71’s Excludes1 note?
    Yes → Do not simply proceed: review the excluded code. Both are reported only when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated.
    No → Continue.

    ReviewA05, A18.32

Consider A04.71. Then confirm the code is valid for the date of service in the Verify section.

Documentation check

The provider’s diagnostic statement
Codes are assigned from the provider’s documented diagnosis, not from clinical criteria, test values or a medication list (Guidelines I.A.19).
The associated condition or complication
Whether the associated condition the title names is documented; the “with” convention presumes some links, and a provider statement that the conditions are unrelated defeats it (Guidelines I.A.15).

Official instructions as workflow

  • Excludes1 — check before selecting A04.71(2 notes)

    Coding workflow: If the documentation supports a condition named in this note, do not simply proceed with A04.71: the two are not reported together. The one exception is when the record shows the two conditions are unrelated to each other.

    CompareA05, A18.32

    See the official tabular notes · Guidelines I.A.12.a

Coding decision scenarios

Pattern scenarios for this code’s structure — decision rules, not clinical cases

Documentation: Both the condition A04.71 describes and a condition named in its Excludes1 note are documented for the same encounter.

Coding question: Can both codes be reported?

Path: Review the Excludes1 note and the excluded code, and look for a provider statement on whether the two conditions are related.

Reason: Excludes1 means the two are not coded together; the exception is when the record shows the conditions are unrelated to each other (Guidelines I.A.12.a).

ReviewA05, A18.32

Documentation: Only one of the components this code’s title joins is documented.

Coding question: Is A04.71 supported?

Path: Review the code for the documented component on its own.

Reason: A combination code is assigned only when it fully identifies the documented conditions; otherwise the documented component takes its own code (Guidelines I.B.9).

Every row is derived from this code’s own record — its title, tabular notes, 7th-character family and same-category siblings — with fixed MedCoder wording; nothing is inferred about a patient. The official notes and guideline text are in the sections each row links to, and they control.

Code Overview

Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, recurrent is a billable ICD-10-CM diagnosis code (A04.71).

MedCoder summary Summary composed by MedCoder from this code's official ICD-10-CM record. The tabular instructional notes themselves appear verbatim below.

Indexed Clinical Terms (23)

Official source data — entries quoted as published, in the Index’s own lookup phrasing

Clinical term phrases from the official ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries that map to this code. These are alphabetic-index entries shown as the Index writes them — lookup phrasing, not necessarily the wording of a final diagnosis.

Verify Before Coding

  • CC as a secondary diagnosis (FY2026). Can raise the stay's MS-DRG severity tier.

From the code registry, the Medicare Code Editor, and the MS-DRG Definitions Manual. Check it against a full claim in Claim Check.

Relationships & Classification

MedCoder structured relationships — computed from published CMS and AHRQ datasets

Other codes that name A04.71 or its code family, from the CMS ICD-10-CM tabular instructional notes. Tabular-note edges are stored at the code family level that carries each note.

Referenced by 3 Excludes1 notes across 3 chapters: A05 — Other bacterial foodborne intoxications, not elsewhere classified (via A04.7.-), K59.3 — Megacolon, not elsewhere classified (via A04.7.-), Z86.17 — Personal history of Clostridioides difficile infection.

These codes’ tabular lists mark this diagnosis as mutually exclusive — not reported together unless the conditions are documented as unrelated.

Referenced by 7 Excludes2 notes across 2 chapters: K55.3 — Necrotizing enterocolitis (via A04.7.-), P35 — Congenital viral diseases (via A04.-), P35-P39 — Infections specific to the perinatal period (P35-P39) (via A04.-), P36 — Bacterial sepsis of newborn (via A04.-), P37 — Other congenital infectious and parasitic diseases (via A04.-), P38 — Omphalitis of newborn (via A04.-), P39 — Other infections specific to the perinatal period (via A04.-).

These codes’ tabular lists name this diagnosis as distinct — both may be reported when both are documented.

Referenced by 1 Code First instruction: M49 — Spondylopathies in diseases classified elsewhere (via A04.-).

Each of these codes carries a Code First note naming this condition — when that code is reported, THIS code is sequenced first, ahead of it.

MS-DRG Grouper Relationships (FY2026)

Potential MS-DRG participation — not a DRG assignment.

FY2026 MS-DRG: CC — Complication or Comorbidity. Reported as a secondary diagnosis, this code raises the stay's MS-DRG severity tier — except when the principal diagnosis is one of 225 clinically related codes on its CMS exclusion list.

Named in the grouper logic of 3 MS-DRGs: DRG 371 (MDC 06), DRG 372 (MDC 06), DRG 373 (MDC 06).

From the CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (Appendices B and C). Actual DRG assignment depends on the complete claim.

Clinical classification (AHRQ CCSR):DIG001 — Intestinal infection (default); INF003 — Bacterial infections.

Clinical Classifications Software Refined (CCSR) for ICD-10-CM Diagnoses. Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Related Codes

Same clinical process (MS-DRG)

Acts as CC — raises the severity of other admissions. CMS groups these diagnoses into one MS-DRG principal-diagnosis exclusion process — a CC/MCC on this list never raises severity when the principal diagnosis is also on it.

A01.4 — Paratyphoid fever, unspecified, A02.0 — Salmonella enteritis, A03.9 — Shigellosis, unspecified, A04.0 — Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection, A04.1 — Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection, A04.2 — Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli infection, A04.3 — Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection, A04.4 — Other intestinal Escherichia coli infections, A04.5 — Campylobacter enteritis, A04.6 — Enteritis due to Yersinia enterocolitica, A04.72 — Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent, A04.8 — Other specified bacterial intestinal infections, A04.9 — Bacterial intestinal infection, unspecified, A05.0 — Foodborne staphylococcal intoxication, A05.1 — Botulism food poisoning, A05.2 — Foodborne Clostridium perfringens [Clostridium welchii] intoxication, A06.0 — Acute amebic dysentery, A06.1 — Chronic intestinal amebiasis, A06.2 — Amebic nondysenteric colitis, A06.9 — Amebiasis, unspecified, +204 more

Same clinical category (CCSR)

AHRQ's Clinical Classifications Software groups these diagnoses under the same clinical categories (Intestinal infection, Bacterial infections).

A03.8 — Other shigellosis, A03.9 — Shigellosis, unspecified, A04.0 — Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli infection, A04.1 — Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli infection, A04.2 — Enteroinvasive Escherichia coli infection, A04.3 — Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection, A04.4 — Other intestinal Escherichia coli infections, A04.5 — Campylobacter enteritis, A04.6 — Enteritis due to Yersinia enterocolitica, A04.7 — Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, A04.72 — Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent, A04.8 — Other specified bacterial intestinal infections, A04.9 — Bacterial intestinal infection, unspecified, A06.0 — Acute amebic dysentery, A06.1 — Chronic intestinal amebiasis, A06.2 — Amebic nondysenteric colitis, A06.3 — Ameboma of intestine, A06.4 — Amebic liver abscess, A06.9 — Amebiasis, unspecified, A07.0 — Balantidiasis, +404 more

Same Index main term, other category

The ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries files this code under the main terms “Colitis”, “Enteritis”, “Diarrhea, diarrheal”; these codes share that main term but sit in a different category of the Tabular List.

A00.1 — Cholera due to Vibrio cholerae 01, biovar eltor (eltor), A01.00 — Typhoid fever, unspecified (typhosa), A02.0 — Salmonella enteritis (aertrycke infection), A03.1 — Shigellosis due to Shigella flexneri (Flexner's), A03.9 — Shigellosis, unspecified (bacillary NOS), A05.0 — Foodborne staphylococcal intoxication (staphylococcal, foodborne), A05.1 — Botulism food poisoning (Clostridium, botulinum), A05.2 — Foodborne Clostridium perfringens [Clostridium welchii] intoxication (necroticans), A06.0 — Acute amebic dysentery (amebic), A06.1 — Chronic intestinal amebiasis (amebic, chronic), A06.2 — Amebic nondysenteric colitis (amebic, nondysenteric), A07.0 — Balantidiasis (balantidial), A07.1 — Giardiasis [lambliasis] (giardial), A07.2 — Cryptosporidiosis (due to, Cryptosporidium), A07.3 — Isosporiasis (coccidial), A07.8 — Other specified protozoal intestinal diseases (trichomonal), A07.9 — Protozoal intestinal disease, unspecified (protozoal), A08.0 — Rotaviral enteritis (rotaviral), A08.11 — Acute gastroenteropathy due to Norwalk agent (norovirus), A08.19 — Acute gastroenteropathy due to other small round viruses (small round structured NEC), +111 more

Lab tests where this diagnosis supports Medicare coverage (NCD)

Medicare's National Coverage Determination (NCD) program lists this diagnosis as medical justification for these lab tests.

Fecal Occult Blood Test (FOBT), Iron Panel

Contextual Map

Every relationship of A04.71 in one view: hierarchy, official tabular instructions in both directions, clinical classification, risk adjustment, MS-DRG participation, index terms and change history — each edge carrying the CMS source it derives from.

Run A04.71 with these 11 related codes in Claim Check

Hierarchy

Referenced by Excludes1 notes

Referenced by Excludes2 notes

Referenced by Code First instructions

Clinical classification (CCSR)

MS-DRG Grouper

MDC crossing

  • MDC 06 — Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System[MDC crossing]: “Diseases and Disorders of the Digestive System — the grouper's crossing between diagnoses and procedures: a principal diagnosis sets the MDC, and same-MDC procedures move the stay to its surgical DRGs. 5,744 same-MDC procedures group here; browse them on the MDC page.”— CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual · FY2026

Index entries (23)

  • Colitis (acute) (catarrhal) (chronic) (noninfective) (hemorrhagic), Clostridioides difficile, recurrent[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Colitis (acute) (catarrhal) (chronic) (noninfective) (hemorrhagic), Clostridium difficile, recurrent[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Colitis (acute) (catarrhal) (chronic) (noninfective) (hemorrhagic), pseudomembranous, recurrent[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Colitis (acute) (catarrhal) (chronic) (noninfective) (hemorrhagic), toxic NEC, due to, Clostridioides difficile, recurrent[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Colitis (acute) (catarrhal) (chronic) (noninfective) (hemorrhagic), toxic NEC, due to, Clostridium difficile, recurrent[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Diarrhea, diarrheal (disease) (infantile) (inflammatory), due to, Clostridium difficile, recurrent[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Enteritis (acute) (diarrheal) (hemorrhagic) (noninfective), Clostridioides difficile, recurrent[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • Enteritis (acute) (diarrheal) (hemorrhagic) (noninfective), Clostridium, difficile, recurrent[Index term]— CMS ICD-10-CM Index to Diseases and Injuries · icd10cm-fy2026
  • and 15 more

Nearest codes (12)

Change history

Sources for this page

Codes, titles, notes, index terms and mappings on this page are transcribed from the datasets below. Relationships MedCoder computed and text MedCoder wrote are labelled where they appear.

Code, title, tabular notes and index terms Official source data
CMS/CDC ICD-10-CM FY2026 tabular list, index and tables, effective October 1, 2025 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Claim edits Official source data
CMS Definitions of Medicare Code Edits — v43.1 (April 2026) Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Inpatient payment groups Official source data
CMS MS-DRG Definitions Manual (incl. Appendix B diagnosis index, Appendix C CC/MCC list, Appendix E procedure index) and IPPS Final Rule tables — v43 Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Change history and date-of-service validity Official source data
CMS ICD-10-CM release addenda, ingested release by release into the change ledger Release, file and checksum · Publisher’s page
Comparisons, relationships and the contextual map MedCoder structured relationship
Computed by MedCoder from the tabular notes and tables above; every derived relationship is marked as derived where it appears
Summary and FAQ answers MedCoder explanation
Written by MedCoder to explain the sources above: drafted with AI assistance, checked by a person against the release files, and labelled as MedCoder text where it appears. Not official text.

Labels on this page: Official source data · MedCoder structured relationship · MedCoder explanation. How to read the labels · All data sources and release dates

Cite this page

Reference this page in a research guide, syllabus or article. The release is included because code content changes each year.

MedCoder.ai. "A04.71 — Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, recurrent." ICD-10-CM FY2026. https://medcoder.ai/icd10/code/a04.71-enterocolitis-due-to-clostridium-difficile-recurrent

Change history

  • FY2018 — October 1, 2017
    Added to the code set
    Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, recurrent
    FY2018 changes

Nearest Codes in This Family

Official ICD-10-CM classifications closest to A04.71 in its code family, with their registry titles.

View all codes in the A04 family