T81.4
Infection following a procedure
Not billable — category only FY2026 2025-10-01 → 2026-09-30
Exclusions 20 never code together
T81code
Excludes2
- complications following immunization (T88.0-T88.1)T88.0-T88.1
- complications following infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.-)T80.-
- complications of transplanted organs and tissue (T86.-)T86.-
- specified complications classified elsewhere, such as:
- complication of prosthetic devices, implants and grafts (T82-T85)T82-T85
- dermatitis due to drugs and medicaments (L23.3, L24.4, L25.1, L27.0-L27.1)L23.3L24.4L25.1L27.0-L27.1
- endosseous dental implant failure (M27.6-)M27.6-
- floppy iris syndrome (IFIS) (intraoperative) H21.81H21.81
- intraoperative and postprocedural complications of specific body system (D78.-, E36.-, E89.-, G97.3-, G97.4, H59.3-, H59.-, H95.2-, H95.3, I97.4-, I97.5, J95, K91.-, L76.-, M96.-, N99.-)D78.-E36.-E89.-G97.3-G97.4H59.3-H59.-H95.2-H95.3I97.4-I97.5J95K91.-L76.-M96.-N99.-
- ostomy complications (J95.0-, K94.-, N99.5-)J95.0-K94.-N99.5-
- plateau iris syndrome (post-iridectomy) (postprocedural) H21.82H21.82
- poisoning and toxic effects of drugs and chemicals (T36-T65 with fifth or sixth character 1-4)T36-T65
T81.4code
Excludes2
- bleb associated endophthalmitis (H59.4-)H59.4-H59.4-
- infection due to infusion, transfusion and therapeutic injection (T80.2-)T80.2-T80.2-
- infection due to prosthetic devices, implants and grafts (T82.6-T82.7, T83.5-T83.6, T84.5-T84.7, T85.7)T82.6-T82.7T82.6-T82.7T83.5-T83.6T83.5-T83.6T84.5-T84.7T84.5-T84.7T85.7T85.7
- obstetric surgical wound infection (O86.0-)O86.0-O86.0-
- postprocedural fever NOS (R50.82)R50.82R50.82
- postprocedural retroperitoneal abscess (K68.11)K68.11K68.11
Excludes2 — not included here, but the patient may have both. Code both when documented.
7th character 3
A initial encounter
D subsequent encounter
S sequela
Instructional notes 8
T81.4code
T81code
Use additional code
- code for adverse effect, if applicable, to identify drug (T36-T50 with fifth or sixth character 5)T36-T50
S00-T88chapter
Notes
- Use secondary code(s) from Chapter 20, External causes of morbidity, to indicate cause of injury. Codes within the T section that include the external cause do not require an additional external cause code
- The chapter uses the S-section for coding different types of injuries related to single body regions and the T-section to cover injuries to unspecified body regions as well as poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes.
Use additional code
- code to identify any retained foreign body, if applicable (Z18.-)Z18.-
Index entries leading here filed at null
No alphabetic index entry points at this code.
Alongside this code 7 same parent — T81
T81.1 Postprocedural shock category T81.3 Disruption of wound, not elsewhere classified category T81.5 Comp of foreign body acc left in body following procedure category T81.6 Acute reaction to foreign substance acc left dur proc category T81.7 Vascular complications following a procedure, NEC category T81.8 Other complications of procedures, not elsewhere classified category T81.9 Unspecified complication of procedure category
Subordinate codes 6
T81.40 Infection following a procedure, unspecified T81.41 Infection fol a procedure, superfic incisional surgical site T81.42 Infection fol a procedure, deep incisional surgical site T81.43 Infection fol a procedure, organ and space surgical site T81.44 Sepsis following a procedure T81.49 Infection following a procedure, other surgical site
Additional references
AHA Coding Clinic® Licence required
Official coding advice for this code. Published by the American Hospital Association. Not included in this installation.