prophylaxis
Meaning of prophylaxis: Prophylaxis is a deliberate measure, such as a medication or vaccine, taken to prevent a specific disease or complication before it occurs.
Definition of prophylaxis
Prophylaxis is an action, medication, or procedure intended to prevent a disease, infection, or complication from occurring, rather than to treat one that is already present. The word is used across many areas of medicine, including antibiotic prophylaxis given before certain surgeries to reduce infection risk, and prophylaxis against blood clots given to patients at increased risk during a hospital stay.
Prophylaxis can be directed at preventing an initial occurrence of a problem, sometimes called primary prophylaxis, or at preventing a recurrence in someone who has already experienced the condition once, sometimes called secondary prophylaxis. The specific measure used, its timing, and its duration depend on what is being prevented and the level of risk involved.
Prophylaxis is distinct from treatment aimed at an already established disease, since its purpose is specifically to reduce the likelihood that a particular problem will occur in the first place.
Used in a sentence
Antibiotic prophylaxis was administered prior to the surgical incision to reduce the risk of infection.
Good to know
Prophylaxis is intended to reduce the likelihood of a problem occurring and does not guarantee prevention, since even appropriate prophylactic measures can fail to prevent the condition they target.
Word origin
Where “prophylaxis” comes from
From Greek prophylassein, meaning "to guard beforehand," formed from pro- ("before") and phylassein ("to guard").