Report

The latex medical disposables market is projected to register a CAGR of 5.1% during the forecast period.

COVID-19 impacted the latex medical disposables market owing to the high demand for medical disposables used to prevent the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in hospitals as well as homes. There was increased production and supply of latex medical disposables during the pandemic. For instance, according to the study published in August 2021 by the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), 11.3% of patients with COVID-19 in 314 United Kingdom hospitals became infected after hospital admission. Thus, to prevent such HAIs, the use of latex medical disposable gloves was highly recommended. Currently, the market growth has slightly seized since the COVID-19 cases declined. The market is expected to face competition in the forecast period due to the adoption of advanced alternatives, such as nitrile gloves and silicone catheters, over latex medical disposable products.

Surgical site infections (SSIs) are one of the major attributable factors of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and awareness regarding SSIs can reduce the hospital stay, morbidity, and mortality associated with SSIs. For instance, according to the article published in the Saudi Journal of Medicine & Medical Sciences in August 2022, when a multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted among adult patients (aged over 18 years) who underwent surgery at six centers located across the five regions of Saudi Arabia, 45.8% of the surveyed population had a fair knowledge about SSIs among which nearly 42% gained knowledge about SSIs from sources outside the hospital, and internet/social media platforms accounted for 48.4% of such sources. Therefore, fair awareness about such infections increases the demand for latex medical disposables used in hospitals as well as at homes.

Furthermore, as reusable medical devices are used for multiple patients, there are chances of inadequate cleaning of the devices, increasing the risk of infection by many folds. For instance, an FDA article updated in April 2022 reported that inadequate cleaning between patient uses can result in the retention of blood, tissue, and other biological debris (soil) in certain types of reusable medical devices, such as endoscopes. This debris can allow microbes to survive the subsequent disinfection or sterilization process, which may then lead to healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). Hence, it is advisable to use disposable gloves in hospitals and clinics while using any medical device or during surgical procedures to reduce the risk of transmission of bacteria and viruses to patients, thereby propelling the utility of latex medical disposable gloves.

The strategic initiatives by market players, such as product launch, approval, and partnership, are also contributing to the growth of the market. For instance, in November 2021, Cathetrix, a developer of urinary (Foley) smart catheter fixations, presented its new catheter stabilizer, Foley/Safe 2.0, to prevent UTIs and accidental Foley catheter extractions at MEDICA 2021. Foley/Safe 2.0 prevents catheter dislodgement and movement, reducing the risk of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (UTI), and provides two-layer protection securement to patients with Foley catheters, latex, and silicone. The company is planning to launch commercially at the Arab Health 2023, which will likely be held in Dubai, UAE, in January - February 2023. Therefore, the expected product launch is projected to contribute to the growth of the market during the forecast period.

Therefore, owing to the aforementioned factors, such as the high burden of HAIs and rising product launches by market players, the studied market is anticipated to witness growth over the analysis period. However, latex allergy in people is likely to impede the market growth.

Latex Medical Disposables Market Trends

Hospitals Segment is Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share Over The Forecast Period

The hospital segment is expected to hold a significant market share owing to the rising hospital-acquired infections and increasing prevalence of chronic diseases leading to longer hospital admissions.

The high burden of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases is associated with long hospital stays for treatment and surgical procedures, which propels the use of latex medical disposables. For instance, the data updated by Cedars-Sinai in January 2022 stated that coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG), also known as coronary artery bypass or bypass surgery, is the most common heart surgery, and more than 300,000 people have successful bypass surgery in the United States each year. Therefore, the high cardiac surgical procedures in hospitals are expected to propel the use of latex gloves, latex foley catheters, and probe covers, thereby fuelling the segment's growth.

The high burden of cancer worldwide is expected to boost the demand for chemotherapy and surgical therapy, which requires wearing disposable gloves to prevent the transmission of harmful chemicals. For instance, as per the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) 2021 report, a total of 150,782 new cancer cases were estimated to be reported in Australia in 2021. Out of the total number of cancer cases, breast cancer cases were estimated to be 20,030, lung cancer with 13,810 new cases, and prostate cancer with 18,110 cases were estimated to occur in 2021. Therefore, the high burden of cancer is expected to increase the hospitalized patient pool, which is further expected to propel the utility of medical disposables and boost the segment's growth during the forecast period.

North America Expected to Hold a Significant Market Share Over The Forecast Period

North America is expected to hold a significant market share owing to factors such as the rising incidence of chronic diseases leading to more extended hospital stays, awareness regarding hospital-acquired infections, well-developed healthcare infrastructure, and a high concentration of market players.

Ultrasound is used for breast cancer screening, which increases the use of latex probe covers. For instance, as per a Statpearls article updated in September 2022, breast ultrasound is performed for the diagnosis of breast cancer amongst women. Also, according to the American Cancer Society 2023 report, an estimated 0.3 million new breast cancer cases are expected to be diagnosed in the United States in 2023. Furthermore, as per a Statpearls article updated in September 2022, roughly 1.3 million women in the United States undergo a cesarean section every year. Therefore, the high burden of such diseases and surgical procedures boosts the use of latex medical disposables during treatment and examination.

Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data in July 2022 showed that coronary heart disease is the most common type of heart disease. Approximately 20.1 million adults of age 20 and older have the disease in the United States. As per the CDC data, every 40 seconds, someone suffers from a heart attack, and nearly 805,000 people in the United States have a heart attack every year. Thus, the high burden of cardiovascular diseases is expected to create demand for heart surgeries, further demanding the availability of foley catheters, probe covers, and other medical disposable products, ultimately fuelling the market growth in the region.

Therefore, factors such as the high burden of chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases are expected to propel the utility of latex medical disposables in the region during the forecast period.

Latex Medical Disposables Industry Overview

Different players are operating in the varied segments of the latex medical disposables sector. However, the latex medical disposable market is fragmented due to the presence of many international and local market players. Additionally, these international players dominate the global market since the brand identity and quality of products offered are more reliable than those provided by domestic players. Some market players are ANSELL LTD, B Braun SE, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., and Top Glove Corporation Bhd.

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