What is the principal diagnosis for R65.2?

The principal diagnosis for R65.2, which is associated with "sepsis," should not be coded as the principal diagnosis on its own. This is because R65.2 represents a specific condition that must relate to a more definitive diagnosis, especially when dealing with cases of sepsis where there is often an underlying infectious condition that should be identified and coded as the principal diagnosis.

When coding sepsis in ICD-10-CM, it is essential to have the causative organism identified, which is reflected in other codes such as B20 for HIV-related conditions. Therefore, use of R65.2 implies that additional coding requirements exist, and it does not stand alone as a principal diagnosis in medical coding practice.