<p>Antibiotic prophylaxis has become an indispensable part of everyday clinical practice. It involves the precise, short-term administration of antibiotics in specific risk situations to prevent infections or to terminate incipient infectious processes. This article discusses antibiotic chemoprophylaxis in the perioperative context as well as in peri-interventional settings for high-risk patients with a&#xa0;predisposition to infective endocarditis. Furthermore, prophylactic strategies against meningitis pathogens and pertussis are addressed. Finally, the article explores the role of antibiotic prophylaxis in preventing sexually transmitted infections in high-risk populations.</p>