Market Overview
The global infection control market is on a strong growth trajectory — projected to reach USD 20.58 billion by 2030, up from USD 14.99 billion in 2025, representing a CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period (2025–2030).
This growth is fueled by multiple factors including:
- Rising prevalence of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
- Increasing number of surgical procedures globally
- Rapid advancements in reprocessing and sterilization technologies
- Heightened focus on disinfection and sterilization in the food industry
- Ongoing outsourcing of sterilization and cleaning services by hospitals and laboratories
However, the market faces challenges such as safety concerns over reprocessed instruments, potential health risks from chemical disinfectants, and high costs associated with endoscopy reprocessing, which may slightly temper expansion.
Market Landscape: Competitive Dynamics in Europe
Europe’s infection control market is highly competitive and technologically advanced, led by STERIS plc (US/Ireland), Reckitt Benckiser (UK), and Paul Hartmann AG (Germany) — each excelling in sterilization, hygiene, and barrier protection solutions.
Other key players include Getinge AB, Ecolab, Inc., Solventum Corporation, Olympus Corporation, B. Braun Group, MMM Group, Matachana Group, Medline Industries, Contec, De Lama S.p.A., Miele Group, and Ultrawave, among others. These companies rely on strategic acquisitions, product launches, collaborations, and geographic expansions to reinforce their European footprint.
Download PDF Brochure: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownloadNew.asp?id=11051524
Key Player Highlights
STERIS plc: Expanding Dominance Through Strategic Acquisitions
STERIS continues to solidify its leadership with bold expansion moves.
In August 2023, STERIS completed a USD 540 million acquisition of surgical instrumentation and sterilization container assets from Becton, Dickinson and Company (BD) — including renowned brands like V. Mueller, Snowden-Pencer, and Genesis.
This acquisition contributed roughly USD 170 million in annual revenue and broadened STERIS’s healthcare segment, enhancing its portfolio in sterile processing and surgical tool management.
STERIS’s integrated portfolio now spans EtO, gamma, and e-beam sterilization systems, washer-disinfectors, instrument care, and contract sterilization services, reinforcing its strong European presence
Reckitt Benckiser: Powering Professional Hygiene Across Europe
Reckitt Benckiser (RB) maintains its position as a key leader in surface disinfection and hygiene, commanding the second-largest share of the European market.
The company has sharpened its focus on core Power Brands — Dettol and Lysol — while streamlining its product portfolio around high-growth, high-margin categories.
In November 2022, RB launched a co-branded professional hygiene range in partnership with Essity, integrating Dettol and Sagrotan into Essity’s Tork distribution network across the UK, Germany, Ireland, and Austria.
This initiative targets institutional and healthcare settings, marking RB’s deliberate push into professional-grade infection control solutions.
Paul Hartmann AG: Leading the Mission for Infection Prevention
Paul Hartmann AG has reinforced its market position through its Mission: Infection Prevention initiative, launched in 2020 in collaboration with clinical partners and the WHO’s Patient Safety Day.
This program focuses on tackling common HAIs and offers consultancy, digital hygiene monitoring, and customized disinfection strategies through its BODE Science Center.
With its trusted disinfectant brand Sterillium and expanded manufacturing capacity in Hamburg (2022), Hartmann ensures product availability and reliability across Europe — furthering its leadership in infection management and hygiene innovation.
Market Ranking and Insights
The European infection control market is dominated by three powerhouses:
- STERIS plc – Leader in sterilization systems and surgical reprocessing
- Reckitt Benckiser – Leader in hygiene and surface disinfection solutions
- Paul Hartmann AG – Leader in infection prevention and barrier solutions
These companies’ success stems from their innovation-driven portfolios, strategic acquisitions, and comprehensive infection control ecosystems — spanning sterilization equipment, disinfectants, monitoring systems, and service outsourcing.
The Road Ahead
As Europe continues to prioritize infection prevention, hospital safety, and sustainability, the infection control market will play a pivotal role in shaping safer healthcare environments. The integration of automation, AI-driven monitoring, and eco-friendly disinfection technologies will define the next phase of market evolution.
With industry leaders investing heavily in R&D, partnerships, and digital transformation, the future of infection control in Europe promises to be not only safer and smarter but also sustainably efficient.
Key Takeaway
Infection control is no longer a background process—it’s a strategic imperative for healthcare, food, and life sciences sectors alike.
With innovation at its core and prevention as its mission, Europe’s infection control market is on a trajectory toward a cleaner, safer, and more resilient future.
