Conventional needle based I.V. catheters, administration sets, and syringes are used for intravenous administration of fluids. However, use of needle based IV systems give rise to needlestick injuries to healthcare workers leading increased incidences of blood borne infections. Therefore, needleless connectors were introduced in 1980s to enhance the safety of healthcare workers. As a result, rate of needlestick injuries decreased significantly in later years. However, eventually it was observed that the use of needleless connectors lead to augment the risk of catheter related blood stream infections. Thus, various designs and mechanisms are introduced to resolve the problems associated with needleless connectors and catheter related blood stream infections. Needleless connectors provide convenience to the nursing staff in administering medication and drawing blood from the attached catheter, thus, these products are widely used in healthcare settings such as acute care hospitals where intravenous administration of medication and blood withdrawal is necessary during the course of treatment offered.
The global acute care needleless connectors market has been segmented based on the type of mechanism. Positive fluid displacement connectors segment accounted for the largest market share of around 34% in 2013. Dominance of this segment was mainly attributed to low cost of the commercially available positive fluid displacement needleless connectors. However, suspected link of positive fluid displacement connectors with increased rate of catheter related blood stream infection is anticipated to limit the growth of this market during the forecast period from 2014 to 2020.
The commercially available needleless connectors are majorly of two types, simple and complex. Simple needleless connectors are less expensive as they have fewer parts compared to complex needleless connectors. In addition, simple connectors do not have internal moving parts thus offering straight fluid pathway. Whereas, complex connectors have internal mechanical valves that leads to non-straight fluid pathway. Complex needleless connectors market was dominant in terms of revenue in 2013 majorly due to higher cost of these devices and large availability of products with mechanical valves in the market. However, increasing incidences of catheter-related bloodstream infections (CRBSI) and catheter lumen occlusion due to the use of complex needleless connectors, the demand for simple needleless connectors is likely to grow rapidly during the forecast period between 2014 and 2020.
Based on dwell time, the global acute care needleless connectors market has been segmented into 7 days connectors and other than 7 days connectors. The other than 7 day needleless connectors segment is anticipated to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Since, these connectors are available at a cheaper rate and offer added credibility of reduced risk of CRBSI infection rate than the 7 day needleless connectors.
Geographically, North America is leading the global acute care needleless connectors market. High awareness among healthcare practitioners, improved healthcare infrastructure and rapid growth in aging population are the major factors driving the market in North America. Furthermore, Asia Pacific is anticipated to show significant growth in the forecast period owing to increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, growing number of hospitals and healthcare facilities, and geographical expansion of market players in India, China, Southeast Asia, and Australia. Key players mapped in the report include, Baxter International Inc., B. Braun Melsungen AG, Becton Dickinson and Company, CareFusion Corporation, ICU Medical Inc., Nexus Medical LLC, RyMed Technologies LLC, and Vygon SA.
Expansion of Regional Markets to Drive the Asia Pacific Acute Care Needleless Connectors Market
Geographically, the global acute care needleless connectors market is segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World. The global acute care needleless connectors market is dominated by North America owing to factors such as a rapidly growing geriatric population in this region, high quality healthcare infrastructure, and widespread awareness amongst healthcare professionals.
It is however, the Asia Pacific market that will expand substantially in the forthcoming years. Factors that propel the Asia Pacific acute care needleless connectors market are growing number of healthcare facilities and hospitals, high incidence of chronic ailments, and most importantly expansion of regional markets such as Australia, Southeast Asia, China, and India.
The prominent companies operating in the global acute care needleless connectors market are Vygon SA, RyMed Technologies LLC, Nexus Medical LLC, ICU Medical Inc., CareFusion Corporation, Becton Dickinson and Company, B. Braun Melsungen AG, and Baxter International Inc. High incidence of cases of catheter related blood stream infections hampers the growth of the global acute care needleless connectors market. Steep cost of branded products as against the domestic substitutes and local products is another factor restraining the market. High investments in a few of the emerging economies is likely to create lucrative growth opportunities in the global acute care needleless connectors market.
