A new Transparency Market Research report states that the global hospital infection therapeutics market stood at US$3.0 bn in 2013 and is predicted to reach US$3.6 bn by 2020. It is expected to expand at a CAGR of 3.10% from 2014 to 2020.

As per the report, the prime factors stimulating the growth of the market for hospital infection therapeutics include the rising prevalence of numerous infections acquired in hospitals, growing aging population, increasing demand for enhanced therapeutic drugs, and rising healthcare awareness. The areas highly prone to hospital-acquired infections include humid and hot areas in medium-to-low-income countries suffering from an absence of standard healthcare amenities. On the other hand, rising surveillance programs and rising control of numerous infections may hamper the growth of the market in the coming years.

In terms of major infections, the hospital infection therapeutics market is segmented into bloodstream infections, gastrointestinal disorders, hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), urinary tract infections, surgical site infections, and other hospital infections. In 2013, the biggest share of the global hospital infection therapeutics market was held by the segment of hospital-acquired pneumonia, with a market share higher than 20%. On the other hand, the segment for urinary tract infections will expand at a rapid pace in the coming years. On the basis of drug type, the hospital infection therapeutics market is segmented into antifungal drugs, antibacterial drugs, and antiviral drugs.

Global hospital infection therapeutics market has been classified into three major segments, based on the type of drugs, namely, antibacterial, antiviral and antifungal drugs. In 2013, the antibacterial drugs segment held the largest share (70.7%) in the global hospital infection therapeutics market. Antibacterial drugs segment is also expected to be the fastest growing segment in the global hospital infection therapeutics market during the forecast period from 2014 to 2020. The global hospital infection therapeutics market has been also classified into six major segments, based on the type of major hospital infections, namely, hospital-acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infections, gastrointestinal disorders, bloodstream infections, surgical site infections and other hospital infections. In 2013, the hospital-acquired pneumonia segment held the largest share (over 20%) in the global hospital infection therapeutics market. Urinary tract infections segment is expected to be the fastest growing segment during the forecast period 2014 to 2020.

Some of the major driving factors for the growth of this market are increasing prevalence of various hospital infections, aging population, increasing healthcare awareness and demand for improved therapeutic drugs. Demand for hospital infection therapeutics will especially rise in low to medium income countries due to the presence of high patient population suffering from different hospital infections, hot and humid environmental conditions, lack of standard healthcare facilities and low social awareness. However, rising multi-drug resistant bacterial strains have rendered available drugs obsolete. Moreover, increasing infection control and surveillance programs may present a threat to the growth of this market. Huge scope for the development of hospital infection therapeutics in treating range of multi-drug resistant microbes and increased penetration in emerging economies would contribute to the growth of the market in near future.

Actavis plc, AstraZeneca plc, Bayer AG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Cubist Pharmaceuticals, Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc, Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc., Merck & Co., Inc., Pfizer, Inc., and Sanofi are some of the major players operating in the global hospital infection therapeutics market. Most of these players constantly innovate and develop new, improved and/or advanced therapeutic drugs that cater to a larger audience worldwide to maintain their position in the global market.