The global high level disinfection services market size was valued at USD 22.3 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach around USD 42.1 billion in 2030 exhibiting a CAGR of 7.3% in the forecasted period. The rise in Hospital-acquired Infections (HAIs), growing incidence of infectious diseases, and increasing number of surgical processes across the world are projected to upsurge the market growth. However, availability of substitute disinfectants is hindering the growth of the market in the forecasted period.
Increasing prevalence of HAIs owing to a deficiency of sanitation and preventive methods is a foremost factor anticipated to propel the growth of the market for high level disinfection services throughout the forecasted period. As per the research article published in British Medical Journal, in 2016-2017, there were nearly 6,53,000 healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) stated about 13.8 million adult inpatients in NHS hospitals in England. Out of these, about 22800 patients died due to contamination. Also, CDC states that around 1 in 31 hospital patients has at least 1 healthcare-associated infection every day.
The occurrence of HAIs depends mostly on the patient's immunity, the applies of infection prevention and hygiene, and the existence of several infectious agents in the health care facility, leading to an increase in demand for infection control services. Hand hygiene with disinfectants and low-level antiseptics, and decontamination of gastro-intestinal endoscopes with powerful, high level disinfectants are both promising preventive measures.
Furthermore, the eruption of the COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on the high level disinfection services market. For example, according to the American Chemical Society, COVID-19 has augmented the use of disinfectants globally. Consistent disinfection of hospital apparatus such as endoscopes to control the spread of COVID-19 aided the high level disinfection services market to advance. Moreover, to cope with the increasing demand, numerous key market players underwent strategic alliances such as mergers, partnerships, acquisitions, and geographic expansions. For instance, in February 2021, STERIS plc completed the acquisition of Cantel Medical. This acquisition was anticipated to help the company tackle the growing demand for high level disinfection services, thus boosting the high level disinfection services market through the COVID-19 period.
Services Insights
The outsource segment ruled the market for high level disinfection services and held the largest revenue share of 60% in 2021. The segment is projected to witness a substantial growth rate across the forecast period. Hospitals and clinical diagnostics centers frequently prefer outsourcing disinfection services. Numerous benefits are related with outsourcing such as customized cleaning services, cost-saving, and usage of innovative technology. Additionally, improvements in global healthcare practices have caused in hospitals outsourcing disinfection and sterilization services. This has delivered new opportunities for manufacturers of HLD equipment.
Outsourcing facilities are more widespread in developed nations and are increasingly infiltrating developing economies. In nations like the U.S. and a few countries in Western Europe, healthcare facilities are gradually outsourcing Central Sterile Supply Department (CSSD) nations to meet infection control standards as well as top-quality administration of complex surgical instruments. Numerous experts recommend that the third-party sterilization and disinfection vendors will upsurge their focus on becoming end-to-end solution suppliers to cover sterilization, cleaning, CSSD layout design, tracking and managing workflow, and logistics services. This will boost Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to hold value-added services including inventory management, CSSD integration, and equipment repair in their portfolio over the traditional services-centered approach. This step would guarantee third-party sterilization services are in direct contact with key decision-makers for better infection control by opening further avenues for market expansion.
The in-house segment is predicted to expand at a significant CAGR in the market for high level disinfection services during the forecasted period. In-house disinfection offers complete control over services movement and eradicates the extra handling and charges related with shipping loads to and from the facility. Though, in-house disinfection is only possible if there is enough volume to keep the disinfection capacity running at or near capability. Furthermore, it is costlier as related to outsourcing. Outsourcing has several advantages over in-house services, thus the later segment will experience slow growth in the forecast period.
Compound Insights
The glutaraldehyde segment leads the market for high level disinfection services and holds the largest revenue share of 22% in 2021. The segment is predicted to witness a substantial growth rate during the projection period. Aldehyde disinfectants are often used for endoscopic processes and surgical unit reprocessing. Glutaraldehyde has extended and extensively been used as an HLD for reusable surgical equipment in healthcare facilities. The increasing number of surgical procedures around the globe is anticipated to fuel demand for these services. Additionally, hospital-acquired infections instigated by excessive surgical unit reprocessing are projected to fuel demand for these solutions, causing the segment to upsurge profitably during the forecast years.
The hydrogen peroxide segment is predicted to witness a considerable growth rate during the assessment period. The US Food and Drug Administration has approved disinfectant solutions containing 7.5% hydrogen peroxide for purification and high-level disinfection in healthcare settings. Hydrogen peroxide is the antiseptic of choice for semi-critical and non-critical procedures, as well as a suitable surface disinfectant, owing to its broad-spectrum bactericidal, virucidal, sporicidal, and fungicidal properties. Hydrogen peroxide disinfectant solutions are deliberated ideal substitutes for toxic sterilants, such as ethylene oxide and aldehyde disinfectants. Thus, owing to the aforementioned advantages, the segment is anticipated to grow at a rapid pace.
Region Insights
North America dominated the high level disinfection services market and accounted for the largest revenue share of 35% in 2021. North America is anticipated to lead the high level disinfectant services industry, owing to the eruption of COVID-19 in this area that has significantly augmented demand for surface disinfectants. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of the United States released an updated list of EPA-registered disinfectant services that have been competent for use against SARS-CoV-2 in March 2020, which included around 200 additional services and 40 new services.
Government initiatives such as awareness campaigns and discharge studies can help combat HAIs; the Department of Health and Human Services in the US announced the Collaboration for Patients initiative to decrease HAIs. It focuses on life-threatening HAIs such as catheter-associated urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, SSIs, and ventilator-associated pneumonia.
Additionally, the number of surgeries in the region has increased dramatically in latest years. According to the ASPS (American Society of Plastic Surgeons), above 17.7 million surgical and minimally invasive aesthetic operations were accomplished in the US in 2018. As an outcome of both of these factors, North America is projected to have the highest revenue share in the market during the forecast period.
In Asia Pacific, the market for high level disinfection services is anticipated to witness the fastest growth rate during the assessment period, owing to the rising cases of infection-transmitted diseases, such as COVID-19, exponentially in India, which are rushing the demand for surface disinfectants. As per the statistics provided by the Word Health Organization, as of July 29, 2022, India registered a record of 44 million COVID-19 patients, leading to about 5,26,000 deaths.
Moreover, a momentous increase in the geriatric population vulnerable to hospital-acquired infections is expected to drive the regional market growth. As per the UNFPA statistics, the number of older people in Asia Pacific will multiple, reaching 1.3 billion by 2050. Also, the growing incidence of chronic diseases, increasing number of surgeries, growing prevalence of surgical site infections, and HAIs will add to the rising demand for HLD services leading to regional market growth.
Key Companies Insights
The market for High level disinfection services is moderately competitive. With the rising applications of High level disinfection services, new players are considering to enter the market. The companies are also involved in activities like joint ventures, acquisitions, partnerships, mergers, and collaborations. These activities aid in growing the effect of the players in the High level disinfection services market, ultimately boosting the market growth.
Some of the key companies working in the global High level disinfection services market include:
• STERIS
• Microchem Laboratory
• EcoFMR.Com
• Altapure
• Metrex Research, LLC
• Rentokil Initial plc
• Advance Sterilization Products (ASP)
• ECOLAB
• GE Healthcare
• Altapure
• OLYMPUS CORPORATION
• Getinge AB
• Fortive Corporation (ASP)
• Jani-King
• Lifemed
• Steelco
• Other players
Some of the Recent Developments:
• In July 2020, oneSOURCE collaborated with Pfiedler Education to deliver free access to a webinar course from sterile handling expert Rose Seavey. The course dedicated on effective tools to aid pass accreditation surveys and allow healthcare professionals to accept continuing education in high-level disinfection, sterilization, and implants and tissue management
• In June 2019, CS Medical launched TEEClean, an automatic TEE probe cleaner disinfector. TEEZyme, an enzymatic solution that is inserted into the cleaning and disinfection reservoir after a stained TEE probe has been suitably inserted, is used in TEEClean. It is used in high level disinfection.
Segments
By Services
• In-house
• Outsource
By Compound
• Formaldehyde
• Glutaraldehyde
• Ortho-pnthalaldehyde
• Hydrogen Peroxide
• Peracetic Acid
• Others
By End User
• Hospitals and Clinics
• Diagnostic Laboratories
• Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies
• Academic and Research Institutes
• Others
By Geography
• North America
o U.S.
o Canada
o Mexico
• Europe
o U.K.
o Germany
o France
o Italy
o Spain
o Russia
• Asia-Pacific
o Japan
o China
o India
o Australia
o South Korea
o ASEAN
• Latin America
o Brazil
o Argentina
o Colombia
• MEA
o South Africa
o Saudi Arabia
o UAE
o Egypt