post-exposure
adjective
post-ex·po·sure
ˌpōst-ik-ˈspō-zhər 
variants
or less commonly postexposure
: occurring after exposure to something (such as a pathogen)
post-exposure antiretroviral medications
post-exposure surveillance
Examples of post-exposure in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some measures can be taken to treat people without measles immunity who have been exposed to the virus, including post-exposure vaccination and immune serum globulin, according to the Mayo Clinic.
—
Jaden Amos, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
Lopez hasn’t provided rabies vaccine records, according to the release, so the injured woman underwent rabies post-exposure treatment as a precaution.
—Rhiannon Saegert, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
The authors highlighted the importance of getting the word out about recent recommendations from the CDC to offer post-exposure prophylaxis medication or treatment and testing to asymptomatic workers.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2025
People who are exposed to HIV have only 72 hours—less than the amount of time many clinics have now been closed—to begin a medication regimen called post-exposure prophylaxis that can help prevent infection.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025
However, those taking medications to treat HIV or pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis drugs will still be ineligible.
—Frank Gluck, The Tennessean, 16 Jan. 2024
Even though deaths are rare – fewer than 10 people a year die from rabies in the US – about 60,000 people receive post-exposure prophylaxis after rabies exposure each year.
—Carma Hassan, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
The latter option, called PEP, for post-exposure prophylaxis, has to be started within 72 hours of exposure to be effective.
—Keren Landman, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
In June, the CDC recommended doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis for high-risk groups — essentially, a morning after pill for STIs.
—Simar Bajaj, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jaden Amos, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025
Lopez hasn’t provided rabies vaccine records, according to the release, so the injured woman underwent rabies post-exposure treatment as a precaution.
—Rhiannon Saegert, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2025
The authors highlighted the importance of getting the word out about recent recommendations from the CDC to offer post-exposure prophylaxis medication or treatment and testing to asymptomatic workers.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 13 Feb. 2025
People who are exposed to HIV have only 72 hours—less than the amount of time many clinics have now been closed—to begin a medication regimen called post-exposure prophylaxis that can help prevent infection.
—Hana Kiros, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2025
However, those taking medications to treat HIV or pre-exposure prophylaxis and post-exposure prophylaxis drugs will still be ineligible.
—Frank Gluck, The Tennessean, 16 Jan. 2024
Even though deaths are rare – fewer than 10 people a year die from rabies in the US – about 60,000 people receive post-exposure prophylaxis after rabies exposure each year.
—Carma Hassan, CNN, 3 Dec. 2024
The latter option, called PEP, for post-exposure prophylaxis, has to be started within 72 hours of exposure to be effective.
—Keren Landman, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018
In June, the CDC recommended doxycycline post-exposure prophylaxis for high-risk groups — essentially, a morning after pill for STIs.
—Simar Bajaj, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Post-exposure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/post-exposure. Accessed 14 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
post-exposure
adjective
post-ex·po·sure
-ik-ˈspō-zhər
variants
also postexposure
: occurring after exposure (as to a virus)
post-exposure vaccination
post-exposure
adverb
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share