PEP
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Post-exposure prophylaxis |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical, Technology & Computing, Business & Finance |
PEP has three meanings. The most common are Post-exposure prophylaxis (infectious disease) and Python Enhancement Proposal (programming); it can also stand for Politically exposed person.
Meanings of PEP at a glance
| # | PEP stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Post-exposure prophylaxis | Medical › Infectious Disease |
| 2 | Python Enhancement Proposal | Technology & Computing › Programming |
| 3 | Politically exposed person | Business & Finance › Banking |
1. Post-exposure prophylaxis
Medical · Infectious Disease Abbreviations
Short course of antiretroviral drugs started within 72 hours after a possible HIV exposure, such as a needlestick injury, sexual assault or condom failure, to prevent infection. The standard course lasts 28 days.
Example: Occupational needlestick from HIV-positive source; PEP started within 2 hours, 28-day course.
The sooner PEP begins, the better it works; it is not recommended after 72 hours. Sexual and drug-use exposures are sometimes labeled nPEP (nonoccupational PEP). People who need PEP repeatedly are usually offered PrEP. In other medical contexts PEP may refer to post-exposure prophylaxis for rabies or hepatitis B, which use vaccines and immune globulin instead.
2. Python Enhancement Proposal
Technology & Computing · Programming Abbreviations
A design document proposing a new feature, process or convention for the Python language, debated by the community and accepted or rejected by Python's steering council. PEP 8 is the official style guide, and PEP 20 lists "The Zen of Python".
Example: Run the formatter before committing; reviewers will flag anything that breaks PEP 8.
The series began in 2000 with PEP 1, modeled on internet RFCs. Guido van Rossum decided on proposals as "Benevolent Dictator for Life" until stepping down in 2018, and a five-member elected steering council has decided since 2019. Typing "import this" in Python prints PEP 20. In medicine PEP means post-exposure prophylaxis.
3. Politically exposed person
Business & Finance · Banking Abbreviations
Individual who holds or has held a prominent public function, such as head of state, senior politician, judge, military officer or executive of a state-owned company, along with family members and close associates. Banks treat PEPs as higher risk for bribery and corruption.
Example: The onboarding system flagged the applicant as a PEP because her brother is a deputy finance minister.
FATF recommendations require enhanced due diligence for foreign PEPs and risk-based measures for domestic ones. PEP status is not an accusation of wrongdoing, and banks are expected not to refuse service on that basis alone. In the UK, PEP was also the name of a former tax-free investment account, the personal equity plan.
Related abbreviations
More infectious disease abbreviations
- OI – Opportunistic infection
- OPAT – Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy
- PAPR – Powered air-purifying respirator
- PCP – Pneumocystis pneumonia
- PHN – Postherpetic neuralgia
- PLWH – People living with HIV
- PPD – Purified protein derivative (tuberculin skin test)
- PPSV23 – 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
More programming abbreviations
- ORM – Object-relational mapping
- OS – Operating system
- PAT – Personal access token
- PCRE – Perl Compatible Regular Expressions
- PHP – PHP: Hypertext Preprocessor
- PID – Process identifier
- pip – pip Installs Packages
- PoC – Proof of concept
See all 154 programming abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.