post-exposure prophylaxis
noun
variants
or less commonly postexposure prophylaxis
plural post-exposure prophylaxes also postexposure prophylaxes
: a preventative treatment for infections or diseases (such as HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease, or rabies) that involves administering one or more drugs to an individual after potential or confirmed exposure to a particular pathogen
Traditionally, most people only get treated for sexually transmitted infections after they notice symptoms, but this new method gets out ahead of a potential infection so the body can prevent it from occurring. In medical terms, it's known as post-exposure prophylaxis …—
Scripps News
Scripps NewsThe new recommendations also include post-exposure prophylaxis for children: a single dose of doxycycline to be given after an engorged tick has been removed, especially during the summer months, to reduce the risk of Lyme disease.—Perri Klass
—abbreviation PEP
compare pre-exposure prophylaxis
Perri KlassDictionary Entries Near post-exposure prophylaxis
Cite this Entry
“Post-exposure prophylaxis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/post-exposure%20prophylaxis. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
post-exposure prophylaxis
noun
variants
also postexposure prophylaxis
plural post-exposure prophylaxes also postexposure prophylaxes
: a preventative treatment for infections or diseases (such as HIV, hepatitis, Lyme disease, or rabies) that involves administering one or more drugs to an individual after potential or confirmed exposure to a particular pathogen
Although avoiding exposure is the most effective prevention strategy, it is not always possible and post-exposure prophylaxis with doxycycline has been shown to be effective at decreasing the risk of developing Lyme disease following a recognized tick bite.—Allison M. Dering-Anderson and Alex J. Adams, Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
—abbreviation PEP
compare pre-exposure prophylaxis
Allison M. Dering-Anderson and Alex J. Adams, Journal of Antimicrobial ChemotherapyLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share