Americas Disposable Surgical Gloves Market Size and Forecasts 2020 - 2030, Regional Share, Trends, and Growth Opportunity Analysis Report Coverage: By Product Type, Form, and End User

The Americas disposable surgical gloves market size is expected to grow from US$ 1.201 billion in 2022 to US$ 2.187 billion by 2030; it is estimated to record a CAGR of 7.8% from 2022 to 2030.

Disposable surgical gloves are used during medical procedures, such as non-invasive procedures, surgery, and chemotherapy agents handling. Disposable surgical gloves are recommended in medical applications to decrease the risk of contamination with blood and other body fluids. These primarily help in the prevention of infection to healthcare professionals and patients. Types of disposable surgical gloves include nitrile, natural rubber, neoprene, and vinyl. Each type of disposable surgical glove has its own benefits, for instance, nitrile gloves are frictionless, puncture-resistant, and last longer than latex gloves.

The prevention of transmissible infections in surgical practice environments is necessary. The appropriate usage and selection of medical gloves are considered important in order to improve infection prevention methods. Powdered gloves are not washed by surgeons prior to use, leading to various health complications, such as latex allergies, which have led to the decreased use of these gloves. In addition, exposure to starch powder from surgical and examination gloves can cause adverse reactions, ranging from well-known allergy symptoms and upper respiratory tract disorders to adhesions, central nervous system inflammation, granulomas, myocarditis, or even misdiagnosis of carcinoma or tuberculosis, for both patients and healthcare personnel. Such conditions result in an increase in hospitalization time or may involve additional surgery.

Due to the risks associated with powdered gloves, the FDA banned their use (both surgical and patient evaluation gloves) in the public health sector in January 2017. Therefore, there is a shift toward powder-free medical gloves as they generally contain low chemicals and endotoxins, which mitigate allergic reactions and skin diseases. Hence, the market players are focusing on launching powder-free medical gloves. For instance, in October 2020, Mölnlycke launched the Biogel PI UltraTouch S surgical glove, which focuses on the problem of allergic contact dermatitis among surgical teams. It is the first surgical glove that was cleared by the FDA in order to reduce the potential for sensitizing users to chemical additives. Thus, the rising adoption of powder-free gloves is anticipated to create ample opportunities for the disposable surgical gloves manufacturers during the forecast period.

Americas is among the fastest-growing regions for the medical industry. The growing medical tourism, increasing investments in developing healthcare infrastructure, and growing number of hospitals and clinics are leading to a rise in the demand for medical consumables, including disposable surgical gloves. According to the Pacific Prime Latin America article published in July 2023, Latin America has over 19,000 hospitals. Also, Brazil surpassed the number of hospitals in the US and has registered 6,642 hospitals as of 2023. The medical industry has drastically transformed and adopted minimally invasive surgeries in recent years. Countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Costa Rica, Argentina, Colombia, and Panama have well-established medical tourism in South America, offering medical care at cheaper rates under medical tourism plans. Latin American countries offer more convenience and have improved medical capabilities, which attracts the maximum number of patients from the US and Canada. According to Healthcare.com, ~780,000 people traveled from the US to Mexico for medical care in 2022. Orthopedic surgeries, including hip and knee replacement, in Mexico are performed at half the cost in the US. Per Patients Beyond Borders, approximately 1.2 million patients travel to Mexico from the US for medical treatment annually. Medical tourism in the Costa Rica is booming at a rapid rate. Costa Rica offers cheaper medical care by 50-70% than the US, hence gaining more patients from the US and Canada.

Furthermore, healthcare settings in Brazil are well-known for aesthetic and cosmetic procedures, while Mexico is highly preferred for surgical procedures. The Pacific Prime Latin America article published in July 2023 also revealed that patients opting for medical procedures in Mexico and Costa Rica could save up to 36-89% and 44-89%, respectively, compared to the costs in the US. Similarly, countries such as Chile, Peru, Cuba, and the Caribbean Islands are witnessing significant growth in their medical tourism. Thus, the growing medical tourism trend in Americas is expected to boost the demand for disposable surgical gloves and is expected to propel the growth of the disposable surgical gloves market in the coming years.

End User -Based Insights

Based on end user, the Americas disposable surgical gloves market is segmented into hospitals and clinics, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. In 2022, the hospitals and clinics segment held the largest market share and is anticipated to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The hospitals and clinics segment are expected to hold a major share in the disposable surgical gloves market as these facilities are the primary healthcare centers for people seeking diagnosis and treatment. The requirement for surgical gloves in hospitals and clinics is increasing due to the rise in hospital visits and readmissions because of chronic diseases. Wearing gloves helps protect patients and healthcare professionals from healthcare-associated infections. The demand for surgical gloves is also influenced by growing awareness regarding the safety and health measures associated with treating patients and emergency response incidents. The risks associated with the transmission of bloodborne pathogens and viruses have led to increased adoption of surgical gloves in these facilities. The high patient footfall and the need to maintain sterile conditions during surgical procedures necessitate the use of disposable surgical gloves. The emphasis on infection control and preventing cross-contamination in hospital environments also fuels the demand for these medical gloves.

International Trade Administration, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, US Food and Drug Administration are among the few primary and secondary sources referred to while preparing the Americas disposable surgical gloves market report.