In medical terms, the definition of “prophylaxis” is “preventative treatment against disease.
Sometimes prophylaxis involves surgery.
For example, a woman at high risk of breast cancer may elect to have a mastectomy.
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What Is Prophylactic Health Care?
Prophylaxis is a good thing in healthcare.
It prevents a problem by addressing the potential issue before it actually becomes an issue.
People often associate the word “prophylactics” with condoms.
Condoms are prophylactics that protect the user against sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and prevent pregnancy.
Types of Prophylactic Care
Preventive care takes many forms.
It may even continue after a disease has been identified.
Generally speaking, prophylaxis doesnt just mean preventing disease.
It can also mean preventing the disease from getting worse or preventingovertreatment.
The different types of prophylaxis include primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary.
Is prophylaxis the same as treatment?
This also includes vaccinations and routine health screenings for children and adults.
Early diagnosis means it is manageable, treatable, and possibly even curable.
Measures should be taken to prevent a minor issue from becoming a major medical problem.
Examples include chemotherapy for cancer, rehabilitation programs after stroke, or disease management for heart failure.
Quaternary Prophylaxis
Excessive medical treatment can sometimes cause harm and should be prevented.
If patients will not benefit from further medical treatment, then they should not be subjected to it.
Chemotherapy causes side effects, so you might prevent harm by stopping treatment.
Prophylactic Drugs
A prophylactic drug is one that’s used to prevent a disease or condition.
For example, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is taken to prevent HIV.
Prophylactic antibiotics are avoided whenever possible in healthcare.
Theoveruse of antibioticshas led to antibiotic resistance and provides no benefit to the patient.
Your physician may choose to prescribe prophylactic antibiotics because the potential benefit outweighs the risk of harm.
In some cases, preventive antibiotics can reduce the risk of infection for patients at high risk.
What does “prophylactically” mean?
A drug or other treatment that is given prophylactically is intended to help prevent a symptom or condition.
The antibiotic should be discontinued 24 to 48 hours after surgery completion.
What is a prophylactic mastectomy?
A prophylactic mastectomy is a surgery to remove breast tissue for those at high risk of breast cancer.
Risk factors include those with a genetic mutation or who had radiation therapy to the chest before age 30.
Use in Dental Procedures
People with serious heart problems are given prophylactic antibiotics in dental procedures.
Thats because dental procedures carry a specific risk of spreading an infection to the heart.
Your surgeon will let you know if you should have prophylactic antibiotics before your procedure.
Summary
Prophylactic healthcare helps prevent or reduce the risk of health problems.
Prophylactic antibiotics may be given to patients at high risk for infection when undergoing surgery or dental procedures.
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