Medical Device Cleaning Market (2026 - 2033)

Medical Device Cleaning Market Summary

The global medical device cleaning market size was valued at USD 28.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow from USD 31.7 billion in 2026 to USD 64.1 billion in 2033, at a CAGR of 10.6% from 2026 to 2033. The market in North America dominated with a revenue share of 32.0% in 2025. The rising prevalence of Hospital-Acquired Infections (HAIs) is expected to be a major factor responsible for the steady growth of the overall market over the forecast period.

Diseases such as Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs), Surgical Site Infections (SSIs), and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) infections are among the most common hospital-acquired infections. The high risk of infection from drug-resistant pathogens, bloodborne pathogens, and other infectious agents in operating rooms is a major concern for hospitals. For instance, frequent usage of urinary catheters leads to a high risk of UTIs and may result in CAUTIs.

According to research published in NCBI, UTIs are among the most common infections, accounting for 25.0% of all bacterial infections among elderly individuals not in long-term care. According to a report from the National Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (NNIS) System, most hospital-acquired UTIs are associated with CA-bacteriuria, and catheterization is the most frequently occurring healthcare-associated infection globally, accounting for approximately 40% of hospital-acquired infections in the U.S. each year. These factors are expected to continue to drive the market growth.

Moreover, an increase in the global prevalence of complex surgeries is anticipated to boost the penetration of infection control measures. As per research published in NIH, 40% to 60% of major post-operative complications were estimated to be SSIs. The ongoing implementation of updated infection prevention and control protocols has resulted in a significant reduction in several hospital-acquired infections, and the situation is expected to improve in the coming years, provided these measures are adopted at the same pace. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) National and State HAI Progress Report, targeted prevention measures have driven a notable 10% national decrease in CAUTIs, a 7% drop in hospital-onset MRSA bacteremia, and a 4% reduction in colon surgery SSIs compared to previous baseline periods.

Manual cleaning and disinfection techniques alone are insufficient to control hospital-acquired infections. Housekeepers clean only 40% to 50% of the surfaces that need cleaning to maintain a sanitary environment. This could be due to hospitals' inability to follow strict guidelines established by regulatory authorities, or to the MDR microbiota's resistance to such stringent cleaning and sterilization processes.

Market Dynamics

Analyst Perspective

The medical device cleaning industry is evolving from a product-centric category toward a compliance-first, outcomes-driven ecosystem in which value increasingly accrues to providers that integrate cleaning chemistries, automated reprocessing equipment, traceability software, and validation services into a unified offering. Future competitive advantage will be shaped primarily by the ability to help healthcare providers meet tightening infection-control regulations, audit requirements, and device-reprocessing standards. The implementation of centralized procurement systems by hospitals, along with their focus on reducing operational risk, is expected to lead to purchasing decisions that favor vendors with broad portfolios, established service networks, and workflow integration capabilities. This dynamic is likely to accelerate consolidation, while digital documentation, automation, and interoperability become key differentiators that raise switching costs and strengthen customer retention.

Device Insights

The market has been segmented into non-critical, semi-critical, and critical. Semi-critical segment held the largest market share of around 47.5% in 2025. Semi-critical devices include those that are exposed to the mucus membrane. Dental equipment, endoscopes, and some surgical instruments are examples of devices in this category. These devices must be sterilized before use, typically by heat or chemical methods, as they require frequent sterilization. Factors impacting market growth include the increasing use of disposable devices, price reductions driven by high competition, and stringent regulatory guidelines from the CDC.

The critical segment is anticipated to witness a significant growth rate over the forecast period. This category includes devices that penetrate body tissues. These devices are sterilized before packaging, and most are single-use. Heat sterilization and ethylene oxide (EtO) are the most widely used methods in hospital settings. Most commercially available single-use surgical equipment is sterilized by radiation. However, the process is not performed in hospital settings and is therefore not within the scope of this report. Similar to semi-critical devices, the increased adoption of single-use devices has reduced the need to clean, disinfect, and sterilize critical devices, which is anticipated to hinder market growth.

Technique Insights

The disinfection segment held the largest market share of around 50.8% in 2025. Disinfection is an important step in the reprocessing of semi-critical and critical medical devices. The disinfectants used in this step are generally categorized as bactericidal, fungicidal, and virucidal. The selection of these materials generally depends on the type of medical equipment. However, selecting such materials for device processing, such as endoscopes, is difficult. Decisions regarding the selection of method, sterilization, or high-level disinfection solutions are tough. Disinfectants in combination with detergents are also considered in this segment.

The sterilization segment is further expected to exhibit lucrative growth. Sterilization involves removing any microorganisms from medical equipment. Steam and EtO sterilization are the most commonly employed sterilization methods in hospital settings. The introduction of surgical devices made of materials other than stainless steel has created a need for alternatives to heat sterilization. The trend toward forming a central sterile services department (Sterile Processing Department) is increasing demand for advanced sterilization equipment to optimize time and costs in the process.

EPA Classification Insights

The intermediate level EPA classification held the largest share of over 48.5% in 2025. Intermediate level disinfectants are chemical agents that are tuberculocidal, killing disease-producing microbes. Some of the most common types of intermediate-level disinfectants are water-based phenolics, hydrogen peroxide blends, quat and alcohol blends, and bleach. The increasing prevalence of HAIs and the spread of infectious diseases are driving segment growth.

     The high-level segment is expected to register a significant CAGR during the forecast period. High-level disinfection refers to the treatment of dental instruments and medical equipment to inhibit microorganisms. It includes the reprocessing of heat-sensitive semi-critical medical equipment and dental instruments. Some of the most widely used high-level disinfectants are glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, and peracetic acid products.

Regional Insights

North America dominated the medical device cleaning market, accounting for approximately 32.0% in 2025. Key market players are consistently engaging in strategic collaborations to expand their product portfolios and enhance infection control capabilities, helping the region capture a greater share of the market. In addition, stringent government regulations on the disinfection and cleaning of medical equipment, along with favorable reimbursement policies, are expected to drive the regional market over the forecast period. Some of the primary factors contributing to the increasing adoption of sterile practices are the growing use of non-disposable medical devices and the demand to reduce costs associated with hospital-acquired infections.

Asia Pacific Medical Device Cleaning Market Trends

The medical device cleaning market in the Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing regional market during the forecast period, owing to the region's substantial outsourcing presence, rising healthcare spending, and the rapid expansion of healthcare standards and infrastructure. Furthermore, the expansion of infectious diseases is propelling market growth in this region. One of the primary drivers of market growth is the presence of various volunteer and government organizations dedicated to strengthening infection control standards.

Key Medical Device Cleaning Company Insights

Key players are actively pursuing mergers, acquisitions, and targeted corporate expansions to increase their global market share and expand their customer base. For instance, in October 2023, Getinge AB expanded its sterile reprocessing and infection control footprint through the acquisition of Healthmark Industries Co. Inc., a U.S.-based provider of instrument care and cleaning verification consumables. This corporate consolidation enables leading firms to offer end-to-end solutions to hospitals' sterile processing departments.

Furthermore, prominent players are investing heavily in dedicated development hubs to collaborate closely with medical device manufacturers on infection prevention solutions. Through these specialized partnerships, hospitals and surgery centers gain access to custom-designed sterile barriers, validation consumables, and advanced reprocessing technologies. This targeted innovation helps healthcare facilities improve operational efficiency, meet evolving regulatory standards, and enhance patient safety outcomes, thereby driving overall market growth.

Key Medical Device Cleaning Companies

The following key companies have been profiled for this study on the medical device cleaning market.

• Steris plc.

• Getinge AB

• Advanced Sterilization Products

• The Ruhof Corp.

• Sklar Surgical Instruments

• Sterigenics International LLC

• Biotrol

• Metrex Research, LLC

• Oro Clean Chemie AG

• Cantel Medical Corp.

• Ecolab

• 3M

Recent Developments

• In April 2026, Intercon Chemical announced the launch of its two newest specialized cleaning brands, Cleaner LS and Cleaner MD. This strategic product introduction marked the company’s direct market entry into the medical device cleaning and chemical formulation sector, capitalizing on the rising demand for advanced chemical detergents.

• In December 2025, Getinge AB launched Automatiq, a new family of next-generation automated logistic modules designed for Central Sterile Supply Departments (CSSDs). The system combines intelligent conveyor systems, advanced software, and smart robotics to optimize sterile reprocessing, reduce human error, and enhance workflow efficiency across medical device cleaning pipelines.

• In November 2025, Getinge AB integrated the open SIMATIC WinCC Unified visualization interface into its latest generation of cGMP washers and sterilizers. This digital solution allowed seamless common-platform control and monitoring of cleaning hardware, streamlining validation workflows and boosting cleanroom operational efficiency.

Medical Device Cleaning Market Report Scope

Global Medical Device Cleaning Market Report Segmentation

This report forecasts revenue growth at the global, regional, and country levels and provides an analysis of the latest industry trends and opportunities in each of the sub-segments from 2021 to 2033. For this study, Grand View Research has segmented the global medical device cleaning market based on device, technique, EPA classification, and region:

• Device Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2021 - 2033)

  • Non-critical

  • Semi-critical

  • Critical

• Technique Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2021 - 2033)

  • Cleaning

    • Detergents

    • Buffers

    • Chelators

    • Enzymes

    • Others

  • Disinfection

    • Chemical

    • Alcohol

    • Chlorine & Chorine Compounds

    • Aldehydes

    • Phenolics

    • Metal

    • Ultraviolet

    • Others

  • Sterilization

    • Heat Sterilization

    • Ethylene Dioxide (ETO) Sterilization

    • Radiation Sterilization

• EPA Classification Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2021 - 2033)

  • High Level

  • Intermediate Level

  • Low Level

• Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2021 - 2033)

  • North America

    • U.S.

    • Canada

  • Europe

    • U.K

    • Germany

    • France

    • Italy

    • Spain

    • Denmark

    • Sweden

    • Norway

  • Asia Pacific

    • Japan

    • China

    • India

    • Australia

    • South Korea

    • Thailand

  • Latin America

    • Brazil

    • Mexico

    • Argentina

  • Middle East & Africa

    • South Africa

    • Saudi Arabia

    • UAE

    • Kuwait