Key Role of Hand Hygiene in Infection Control to Spur Wider Adoption, Says Frost & Sullivan

LONDON, June 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- After the booming sales of hand hygiene products in 2008–2009, volume sales plummeted in 2009–2010, before gradually recovering. The hand hygiene market has expanded to include hand hygiene compliance monitoring technologies that, while still at a nascent stage, offer promising growth opportunities for companies in the infection control industry.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (http://www.medicaldevices.frost.com), Hand Hygiene Champions the Cause of Infection Control, finds that the Western European hand hygiene market earned revenue of $271.3 million in 2010 and estimates this to reach $446.9 million in 2017.

"Outbreaks such as enterohaemorrhagic e. coli (EHEC) continue to highlight the importance of hand hygiene in containing infectious diseases," notes Frost & Sullivan Industry Analyst Beulah Devadason. "The threat of mutated viral strains and increasing anti-microbial resistant infections has underlined the need for infection control."

The WHO regards hand hygiene as an essential tool for the prevention of nosocomial infections. Improved compliance in hand hygiene, with the proper use of alcohol-based hand rubs, can reduce nosocomial infection rates by approximately 40 per cent. Therefore, the need for reduction in the incidence of nosocomial infections is a major driver in the growth of the hand hygiene market.

However, market penetration will not be easily achievable as the onus of proving the efficacy of the product in preventing healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) and providing ultimate cost savings for healthcare institutions lies with the manufacturers.

"Hand hygiene compliance has never been 100 per cent," remarks Beulah Devadason. "This, together with the fact that hand hygiene compliance monitoring as well as HCAI incidence reporting is yet to be standardised across the EU, is making it difficult for manufacturers to prove the quantifiable return on investment for an effective hand hygiene program."

The integration of hand hygiene compliance monitoring technologies, with the use of automated and manual dispensers in the next five to seven years, will aid market growth as the value of infection prevention is increasingly being recognised by government and hospital management authorities.

Hand hygiene product manufacturers need to integrate hand hygiene compliance monitoring technologies with their existing product lines. This will not only be important to gain market share but also to establish the brand as a complete solutions provider in the infection control industry.

"The right combination of effective products, compliance monitoring solutions and awareness initiatives will guarantee strong revenue growth, while providing optimal value to patients and healthcare institutions," concludes Beulah Devadason.

If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an e-mail with your contact details to Janique Morvan, Corporate Communications, at [email protected].

Hand Hygiene Champions the Cause of Infection Control is part of the Medical Devices Growth Partnership Services Programme, which also includes research in the following markets: Western European Gels & Scrubs Market, Western European Decontamination Equipment Market, Custom procedure Trays and Packs Move towards Standardisation and Hospital Acquired Infection Trends across Europe. All research included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.

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Hand Hygiene Champions the Cause of Infection Control
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Contact:
Janique Morvan
Corporate Communications – Europe
P: +33 (0)1 42 81 20 37
M: +33 (0)6 79 22 41 42
E: [email protected]

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SOURCE Frost & Sullivan