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Prophylaxis (Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
 "p??f???ss?" to guard or prevent beforehand) is any medical or public health
Public health

Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals." It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis....
 procedure whose purpose is to prevent, rather than treat or cure a disease. Roughly, prophylactic measures are divided between primary prophylaxis (to prevent the development of a disease) and secondary prophylaxis (whereby the disease has already developed and the patient is protected against worsening of this process).








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Prophylaxis (Greek
Greek language

Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European....
 "p??f???ss?" to guard or prevent beforehand) is any medical or public health
Public health

Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals." It is concerned with threats to the overall health of a community based on population health analysis....
 procedure whose purpose is to prevent, rather than treat or cure a disease. Roughly, prophylactic measures are divided between primary prophylaxis (to prevent the development of a disease) and secondary prophylaxis (whereby the disease has already developed and the patient is protected against worsening of this process).

Examples

Some specific examples of prophylaxis include:
  • Influenza vaccines are prophylactic.
  • Antibiotic
    Antibiotic

    In common usage, an antibiotic is a substance or compound that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria. Antibiotics belong to the group of antimicrobial compounds used to treat infections caused by microorganisms, including fungus and protozoa....
    s are sometimes used prophylactically: For example, during the 2001 anthrax attacks
    2001 anthrax attacks

    The 2001 anthrax attacks in the United States, also known as Amerithrax from its Federal Bureau of Investigation case name, occurred over the course of several weeks beginning on September 18, 2001....
     scare in the United States, patients who were believed to be exposed were given ciprofloxacin
    Ciprofloxacin

    Ciprofloxacin is a synthetic chemotherapeutic agent used to treat severe and life threatening bacterial infections. Ciprofloxacin is commonly referred to as a fluoroquinolone drug and is a member of the quinolone class of antibacterials....
    . Similarly, the use of antibiotic ointments on burns and other wounds is prophylactic. Antibiotics are also given prophylactically just before some medical procedures such as pacemaker insertion.
  • Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) may, with caution, be an example of a chronic
    Chronic (medicine)

    In medicine, a chronic disease is a disease that is long-lasting or recurrent. The term chronic describes the Course of the disease, or its rate of onset and development....
     migraine preventative (see Amitriptyline
    Amitriptyline

    Amitriptyline hydrochloride is a tricyclic antidepressant Medication. It is a white, odorless, crystalline compound which is freely soluble in water; it is usually dispensed in tablet form....
     and migraines' prevention by medicine
    Migraine

    Migraine is a neurology syndrome characterized by altered bodily perceptions, headaches, and nausea. Physiologically, the migraine headache is a neurological condition more common to women than to men....
    ).
  • Antimalarials such as chloroquine
    Chloroquine

    Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline drug used in the treatment or prevention of malaria....
     are used both in treatment and as prophylaxis by visitors to countries where malaria
    Malaria

    Malaria is a Vector -borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. It is widespread in Tropics and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa....
     is endemic to prevent the development of the parasitic plasmodium
    Plasmodium

    Plasmodium is a genus of parasitic protozoa. Infection with these parasites is known as malaria. The genus Plasmodium was created in 1885 by Ettore Marchiafava and Angelo Celli....
     which cause malaria
    Malaria

    Malaria is a Vector -borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites. It is widespread in Tropics and subtropical regions, including parts of the Americas, Asia, and Africa....
    .
  • Condom
    Condom

    A condom is a device most commonly used during sexual intercourse. It is put on a man's erect penis and physically blocks ejaculated semen from entering the body of a sexual partner....
    s are sometimes referred to as "prophylactics" because of their use to prevent pregnancy and the transmission of sexually transmitted infections.
  • Low molecular weight heparin
    Low molecular weight heparin

    In medicine, low-molecular-weight heparin is a class of medication used as an anticoagulant in diseases that feature thrombosis, as well as for prophylaxis in situations that lead to a high risk of thrombosis....
     is used as a prophylaxis in hospital
    Hospital

    A hospital is an institution for health care providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment, and often but not always providing for longer-term patient stays....
     patients, as they are at risk for several forms of thrombosis
    Thrombosis

    Thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot inside a blood vessel, obstructing the flow of blood through the circulatory system. When a blood vessel is injured, the body uses platelets and fibrin to form a blood clot, because the first step in repairing it is to prevent loss of blood....
     due to their immobilisation.
  • Professional cleaning of the teeth
    Tooth

    Teeth are small whitish structures found in the jaws of many vertebrates that are used to tear, scrape, and chew food. Some animals, particularly carnivores, also use teeth for hunting or defense....
     is dental prophylaxis.
  • Daily and moderate physical exercise
    Physical exercise

    Physical exercise is any bodily activity that raises the heart rate above its resting level and enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health....
     in various forms can be called prophylactic because it can maintain or improve one's health. Cycling for transport
    Utility cycling

    Utility cycling encompasses any cycling not done primarily for physical fitness, recreation such as bicycle touring, or sport such as bicycle racing, but simply as a means of transport....
     appears to very significantly improve health by reducing risk of heart diseases, various cancers, muscular- and skeletal diseases and overall mortality.
  • Prophylaxis may be administered as vaccine. Prophylactic vaccines
    Vaccine

    A vaccine is a biological preparation that establishes or improves immunity to a particular disease.Vaccines can be prophylaxis , or Medication ....
     include: PEP, nPEP, PREP, or nPREP. PEP stands for post-exposure prophylaxis used in an occupational setting. nPEP is non-occupational post-exposure prophylaxis. nPEP may be used in a recreational setting e.g. during intercourse if the condom breaks and one partner is HIV-positive, nPEP will help to decrease the probability of spread of infection of HIV. PREP is often used in occupational settings e.g. in hospital staff to prevent the spread of HIV or Hepatitis C from patient to staff. nPREP is a measure taken before exposure but in a non-occupational setting (non-occupational Pre-exposure prophylaxis) e.g. injection drug users may seek nPREP vaccinations.


See also

  • Pre-exposure prophylaxis
    Pre-exposure prophylaxis

    Pre-exposure prophylaxis is the long-term use of a prophylactic treatment for a disease prior to exposure to the cause of that disease, so that the prophylactic treatment will already be in place when exposure occurs, and may either be able to prevent the disease from being contracted, or at least ensure that the resulting disease is treated...
  • Post-exposure prophylaxis
    Post-exposure prophylaxis

    Post-exposure prophylaxis is any prophylaxis treatment started immediately after exposure to a pathogen , in order to prevent infection by the pathogen and the development of disease....