Infection Control Market Size, Share, and COVID-19 Impact Analysis by Type [Equipment (Sterilization Equipment, Disinfectors, and Others), Consumables (Sterilization Products, Disinfectants, Protective Barriers, and Others), and Services (Contract Sterilization and Infectious Waste Disposal Services)], By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Pharmaceutical Companies, Medical Device Companies, and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2024-2032

Infection control includes specific standard policies, protocols, and practices that must be implemented to avoid and control infections. These practices are highly encouraged by clinical settings and other healthcare organizations. For instance, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the standard precautions include hand hygiene, personal protective equipment, respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette, safe injection practices, sterile instruments and devices, and clean and disinfected environmental surfaces. Thus, infection control products and methods are crucial to reducing infection transmission and the overall healthcare burden.

The infection control market growth is fueled by factors such as the increasing number of surgical procedures, technological advancements in products, the growing trend of service outsourcing, and the rising prevalence of infectious diseases. Among all the post-pandemic surge in surgical procedures is driving the market to a significant extent.

• For instance, according to an article published in Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection, in 2020, approximately 310 million major surgeries are performed annually globally. These include 40-50 million surgeries in the U.S. and around 20 million in Europe. However, private hospitals and clinics experienced a 20-30% increase in elective procedures compared with pre-pandemic levels. Thus, a sudden surge in surgical procedures and a continuously increasing number of surgeries is leading to increased demand for infection control products and services, thereby driving the market growth.

Moreover, the rising prevalence of infectious disease is increasing the demand for protective barriers and infection control equipment. For instance, according to The Lancet, 13.7 million people globally died from infectious syndromes in 2019, where 5.2 million deaths co-occurred with non-communicable diseases. The rising prevalence of infectious diseases is increasing the demand for infection control products and equipment, driving the market growth during the forecast period.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Infection Control Market

The COVID-19 pandemic positively impacted the infection control market due to a surge in the use of disinfectants, gloves, masks, and other protective equipment. The core key players made a huge profit, and other industry players also entered the space to fulfill the demand, thereby contributing to the overall infection control market.

• For instance, according to the World Trade Organization (WTO), face masks and rubber gloves, among other products, registered double-digit growth rates in 2020. The export of personal protective products (PPPs) from Asia grew from 35% in 2019 to 51% in 2020, leading to Asia's increased export share. In 2020, world exports of PPPs rose by 44.6%, while China's exports grew by 208%.

However, the demand for these products is expected to decline in the coming years compared to 2020 and 2021. For instance, in February 2022, 3M announced that the company is expecting a reduction in demand for medical masks by about 2%. The COVID-19 pandemic helped infection control players gain traction, which led to the robust growth of the infection control market.

Key Insights

The report will cover the following key insights:

• New Product Launches, by Key Players.


• Key Industry Developments (Mergers, Acquisitions, and Partnerships).


• R & D expenditures, by Leading Players.


• Technological Advancement in the infection control market.


• Impact of COVID-19 on the market.

Analysis by Type

The consumables segment constituted a significant share of the global infection control market. The consumable segment is sub-segmented into sterilization products, disinfectants, and protective barriers. The regular use of hand sanitizer, wipes, and face masks contributed to the segment's growth to a great extent. For instance, according to an article published by UNICEF in 2021, UNICEF has sent 385 million surgical masks and 23.3 million N95 respirators to 134 countries. Also, Taiwan donated 10 million masks to the U.S. and Europe in 2020. Such donations boosted the market share of the consumables segment in historical years and are expected to grow in coming years due to regular use and the short lifespan of these products.

Regional Analysis

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North America constituted the largest market share in the infection control market. The presence of key players and the increasing demand for infection control products in the region is attributed to the market growth in North America. The increased demand for these products during the COVID-19 pandemic raised prices, thereby boosting the overall segment's revenue.

• For instance, according to an article published by OECD, in the U.S., the price of face masks increased by 319% between January and February 2020. Before January, a box of 100 masks could be bought for approximately USD 4, however, at the end of February, a single unit was sold for USD 20. Similarly, a respirator box price containing 20 units increased from USD 17 to USD 70.

Moreover, developed healthcare infrastructure, more numbers of hospitals, clinics, and pharmaceutical and medical devices companies in the U.S. helps North America to use more infection control methods and lead the region to capture more market share.

Key Players Covered

The report will include profiles of key players such as 3M, Getinge AB, Advanced Sterilization Products Services Inc (FORTIVE CORPORATION), Lumalier, STERIS plc, MMM Group, Belimed, XENEX Disinfection Systems, MATACHANA Group, and Sterigenics International (Sotera Health).

Segmentation

Key Industry Developments

• February 2022: Lumalier announced the launch of EDU-C, a portable emergency disinfection system for all businesses and facilities.


• September 2021: Sterigenics Germany GmbH and Nelson Labs announced the expansion of sterilization capacity in their Wiesbaden, Germany facilities. The expansion aimed to address the significantly increased demand for these services by the medical device and pharmaceutical industries.


• January 2021: Steris plc announced that it had signed an agreement to acquire Cantel Medical. The acquisition aimed to expand the infection control product portfolio of Steris plc.