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Medical Market Maturation



flat volumes in North America have producers turning to Europe and Asia for growth



By Ellen Wuagneux
Associate Editor




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Considering the high-tech nature of nonwovens, it’s ironic that advanced medical technology has not necessarily been a boon for producers of disposable nonwovens in North America. The trend toward fewer invasive surgeries has translated into a lack of growth for disposable medical applications such as masks, drapes, gowns and sterile surgical instrument covers.

For example, many cardiovascular and orthopedic procedures are now done in a clinic or doctor’s office, bypassing the need for a full operation. “There is also an increasing reliance on diagnostic procedures, such as MRI, CAT scans and radiology testing, to determine the cause of pain, rather than exploratory procedures with full anesthesia,” commented Ian Butler, director of market research and statistics at INDA, Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry.

Balancing this effect is an aging worldwide population—with increased incidences of acute diseases—fueling demand for disposable medical nonwovens. As the elderly population continues to grow throughout the world, surgical procedures using nonwoven disposables are also expected to multiply.

Another factor continuing to drive growth is ongoing awareness of and concern over hospital-acquired infections (HAI) such as hepatitis and AIDS. According to the CDC and other healthcare officials, 1.7 million infections impact hospital patients each year, costing hospitals an estimated $4.5 billion in additional medical costs.

As Joanne Bauer, president of Kimberly-Clark Health Care, pointed out, hospitals agree that HAIs are a serious patient safety concern and know the stakes are high. “Not only do hospitals make it their mission to deliver the best patient care possible because it’s the right thing to do, but the occurrence of infections can also have a major impact on a hospital’s financial health.”

HAIs are an unfortunate complication in virtually every hospital and can result in longer stays, more procedures and added healthcare costs. In its simplest definition, an HAI is an infection acquired by a patient while receiving medical care or treatment while in a hospital or healthcare facility. As an example, the CDC reports that surgical site infection, one form of an HAI, affects more than 370,000 patients in the U.S. each year.