Coding for Conditions Initially Treated but Later Determined to Be Non-Existent (false)
I have a situation where a condition was treated for a couple of days and was later determined to be non-existent (false).
Can I code a condition that was initially treated but later found to be non-existent?
In one case, the patient was initially treated for “concern for” bacteremia due to a positive blood culture for 2-3 days. However, it was later determined that the culture was contaminated, the IV antibiotics were stopped, and the patient was discharged.
Should bacteremia still be coded since resources were used to treat it?
In a second case, the patient presented with complaints of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cloudy urine and was admitted pyelonephritis. Treatment for pyelonephritis continued for two days. However, in the discharge summary, the physician noted the patient reports minimal genitourinary symptoms…Given the borderline urinalysis with 6-10 WBC, negative leukocyte esterase, and negative nitrites, there is not a compelling case for pyelonephritis, so IV antibiotics were stopped. Suspected Viral gastroenteritis.
PDX was changed to viral gastroenteritis, but can I still code for pyelonephritis?