RE:

[Brenda Chance]

If she has a positive culture for mrsa in her blood, that is definitely a bacteremia.  Septicemia would have to have a definite present diagnosis with the clinical findings associated with septicemia, ie multi-system failure, etc.  the abdominal wound would likely just be coded as a wound infection.  What dx did she come from the hospital with?   Brenda W. Chance, RN, RAC-C MDS Coordinator     CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message. -----Original Message----- From: Ann Schoeny [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, February 04, 2004 12:43 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject:   I have a readmission from the hospital that has a positive mrsa in the blood. She also has a dehiscence of a dirty abdominal wound. We were told that the hospital did not culture it d/t so much bacteria and infection in the wound! Any ideas about coding? Bacteremia Septicemia wound infection.   Thanks, Ann