Clostridium difficile colitis is classified under ICD-10-CM code A04.7, which requires specifying whether the infection is recurrent. Common billable codes include A04.71 (recurrent), A04.72 (not specified as recurrent), and A04.8 (other specified bacterial intestinal infections).
Primary codes
Billable
Billable
Extension
—
7th character
—
POA exempt
No
Coding risks
- Coding based on lab values alone without provider interpretation
Hierarchy
Code comparison
Compare key differences between related codes to select the most specific option.
| Code | Description | Scenario |
|---|---|---|
| A04.71 | Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, recurrent | C. difficile enterocolitis documented as recurrent after prior treated episode. |
| A04.72 | Enterocolitis due to Clostridium difficile, not specified as recurrent | C. difficile enterocolitis confirmed, with no documentation of recurrence or prior episode. |
| A04.8 | Other specified bacterial intestinal infections | Bacterial intestinal infection identified from a specified organism other than C. difficile or standard categories. |
Select the most specific code supported by the encounter documentation. More specific codes improve reimbursement accuracy and reduce audit risk.
Code ranges
Other bacterial intestinal infections
Bacterial intestinal infections not classified as cholera, typhoid, salmonella, or shigella, including E. coli, Campylobacter, and C. difficile enterocolitis.
Intestinal infectious diseases
Infections of the gastrointestinal tract caused by bacteria, viruses, protozoa, or other organisms producing diarrheal or dysenteric illness.
Viral and other specified intestinal infections
Intestinal infections caused by viral agents such as rotavirus, norovirus, and adenovirus, or other specified nonbacterial organisms.
Other and unspecified noninfective gastroenteritis and colitis
Noninfectious inflammation of the small intestine and colon, including radiation, allergic, dietary, and drug-induced enterocolitis.
Other symptoms and signs involving the digestive system and abdomen
Nonspecific digestive symptoms and abnormal findings including diarrhea, abdominal mass, and altered bowel sounds without an established diagnosis.
Coding risks
Avoid these common coding issues when reporting Clostridium Difficile Colitis.
Impact
Assigning A04.7 without explicit recurrence status may default to A04.72 when A04.71 is supportable.
Mitigation
Consider querying the provider when recurrence status is absent rather than inferring from prior treatment history or repeat testing.
Related codes
Ancillary and co-coding
Codes commonly reported with the primary diagnosis on the same claim.
Z-code variants
Family history, personal history, or screening encounter codes related to this condition.
Differential codes
Alternative or commonly confused codes to consider when documentation suggests a different condition than the primary diagnosis.
Frequently asked questions
No. The recurrent and not-specified-as-recurrent subcategories are mutually exclusive, so only one A04.7 subcode may be assigned per encounter.
References
Compiled from the following authoritative coding references. Last updated 2026-08-04.