Use of disposables may curb hospital-acquired infections

NEW YORK – There is a growing demand for disposable needles and syringes due to concerns about hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), according to a new report by healthcare experts GBI Research.

The report by GBI Research states that demand for disposable hospital supplies is growing globally, as they reduce risks of cross-contamination. The growing diabetes population and increasing numbers of those with access to state healthcare coverage mean that more and more patients will face the risk of HAIs.

State healthcare systems are being pressured to impose active measures for the prevention and control against HAIs, fuelling a demand for disposable products. Governments in developed countries are encouraging the use of disposable hospital supplies in order to reduce healthcare costs incurred in treating HAIs.

The demand is expected to increase as more healthcare facilities adopt stricter infection prevention protocols to meet stronger standards. For example, the European market for disposable surgical gowns and drapes has witnessed a steady growth in the past few years due to the enforcement of high standards of infection control based on the new European Union Medical Device Directive (MDD) and EU regulations.

In the US, the disposable hospital supplies market will be driven by an expanding patient pool and the Affordable Care Act of 2010, which had resulted in an increased number of people with access to medical care.

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that about 5–10% of patients admitted to acute care hospitals in developed countries acquire an infection. HAIs are reported to cause around 80,000 deaths annually in the US and 5,000 deaths each year in the UK. Non-fatal infections also result in increased healthcare expenditure, due to prolonged hospital stays for patients. With the overall annual direct cost of HAIs to US hospitals ranging between $28 and $34 billion, the use of medical disposables is well worth the price.

Revenue in the disposable hospital supplies market grew at a rate of 6% during 2004–2011, and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% during 2011–2018 to reach $15.4 billion in 2018.