Postexpositionelle

Postexpositionnelle is a French adjective meaning occurring after exposure to a substance, stimulus, or hazard. It is used to describe processes, effects, or interventions that take place after a person or object has been exposed to something, and it is commonly found in medical, toxicological, and occupational health contexts. The masculine form is postexpositionnel, and the feminine form is postexpositionnelle.

In medical language, prophylaxie postexpositionnelle refers to preventive treatment given after potential exposure to an infectious agent, notably HIV, to reduce the risk of infection. This concept is contrasted with prophylaxie préexpositionnelle (PrEP), which is used before exposure.

In toxicology and pharmacology, postexpositionnelles effects describe delayed or ongoing biological responses that occur after exposure to toxins or drugs, including latency periods and secondary symptoms. In occupational and environmental health, the term also appears in expressions such as évaluation postexpositionnelle or monitoring to assess health status after a known exposure event, guiding follow-up care and risk management.

Etymology wise, the term is formed from post- (after) + exposition (exposure) + -elle or -el to agree with the gender of the noun it modifies.

Examples include postexpositionnelle prophylaxis after possible HIV exposure, postexpositionnelles effets following pesticide exposure, and évaluation postexpositionnelle after a chemical spill.

See also: préexpositionnel, prophylaxie postexpositionnelle, prophylaxie préexpositionnelle.