prophylaxis

American  

[proh-fuh-lak-sis, prof-uh-] / ˌproʊ fəˈlæk sɪs, ˌprɒf ə- /

noun

1. Medicine/Medical.

   1. the preventing of disease.

   2. the prevention of a specific disease, as by studying the biological behavior, transmission, etc., of its causative agent and applying a series of measures against it.

2. prophylactic treatment, as the cleaning of the teeth by a dentist or dental hygienist.

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prophylaxis British  

/ ˌprɒfɪˈlæksɪs /

noun

1. the prevention of disease or control of its possible spread

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Etymology

Origin of prophylaxis

1835–45; < New Latin < Greek pro- pro- ² + phýlaxis a watching, guarding, equivalent to phylak- (base of phylássein to guard) + -sis -sis

Example Sentences

Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, has been used for over a decade to prevent HIV, but its reliance on a daily pill has limited its impact on global infections.

From Barron's

District Judge Reed O’Connor builds on a September judgment in which he also said the ACA requirement that employers cover preexposure prophylaxis treatment to prevent HIV violates the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

From Scientific American

The ruling in September also took explicit aim at the H.I.V. drug regimen known as pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, saying the law’s requirement that it be fully covered violated Braidwood Management’s religious freedom.

From New York Times

District Judge Reed O’Connor, presiding in Fort Worth, had ruled in September that a mandate requiring coverage of pre-exposure prophylaxis against HIV, or PrEP drugs, violated religious freedom.

From Washington Times

“Nothing has been proven to work for prophylaxis apart from the vaccines,” Mills says.

From Los Angeles Times