prophylaxis

Definition

A prophylaxis is a measure taken to maintain health and prevent the spread of disease. Antibiotic prophylaxis is the focus of this article and refers to the use of antibiotics to prevent infections.

Description

Among the drugs used for antibiotic prophylaxis are amoxicillin (a type of penicillin) and fluoroquinolones such as ciprofloxacin (Cipro) and trovafloxacin (Trovan). These drugs are available only with a physician's prescription and come in tablet, capsule, liquid, and injectable forms.

— Nancy Ross-Flanigan

[New Latin, from Greek prophulaktikos, prophylactic. See prophylactic.]

(pro-fuh-LAK-sis, prof-)

noun
Prevention of or protective treatment for disease.

Etymology
New Latin, from Greek prophulaktikos, from prophulassein, to take precautions against : pro-, before + phulassein, to protect (from phulax, guard).

The prevention of disease.

Any preventative treatment of a disease.

Prevention of disease; preventive treatment.

• dental p. — scaling and polishing teeth carried out regularly to prevent and control peridontal disease.