Surgical gowns are worn by doctors and nurses in the operating theatre to address a dual function of preventing transfer of microorganisms and body fluids from the operating staff to the patient, and also from patient to staff. Many of the performance requirements for surgical gowns are well documented. Surgical gowns must repel diseases and infections yet provide adequate freedom to move. They must allow necessary mobility without rubbing and chafing, and must resist tearing and linting. They must fit closely but not restrict movement. Since there is generally excess fabric, the gowns must withstand constant pulls on the fabric during routine movements. These gowns must be designed to fit a diversity of body shapes and sizes with a limited range of sizes as hospitals will only stock limited quantities. The gowns must control the bacteria released into the theatre and aid in maintaining the sterile zone required for patient safety. They must provide for easy donning and doffing without contamination, yet not have openings where the barrier might be breached. Gowns must be durable enough to last the intended useful life of the garment, be that single or multi-use. They should repel fluids but ventilate the surgeon’s extreme body heat. And all of this must be accomplished in a cost-effective manner.

On the basis of product type, the market is segmented into reusable and disposable surgical gowns. The disposable surgical gowns segment dominated the market in 2020. There are many cost issues to consider when a healthcare facility is deciding between reusable or disposable textiles. It is vital to consider the difference between the cost-per-use versus the actual purchase price of each item. Ultimately, each healthcare facility should weigh the negative and positive aspects of each to decide what is best for them. Both single-use and reusable surgical gowns are manufactured to the same regulatory standards covering performance claims, care and handling, labelling and overall safety practices. There are not more stringent regulations for one or the other. Some believe disposables offer better consistency and quality than reusable products. Many healthcare facilities may choose to use disposable surgical gowns since they cost less to purchase upfront vs. the reusable product. But when taking a look at the lifecycle cost of reusable products, several studies found that they actually cost less than disposables in the long run.

North America accounted for the largest share of the global surgical gowns market in 2020. Moreover, Asia is likely to show lucrative growth during the forecast period. Healthcare associated infections (HAIs) are infections that acquired while receiving health care in a hospital or other health care facility that first appear 48 h or more after hospital admission or within 30 days after discharge following in patient care. In the US, is has been reported that HAIs are the most common complications of hospital care and one of the top 10 causes of death. The overall direct cost of HAIs to hospitals in the US ranges from USD 28 billion to 45 billion. In the EU, it is estimated that 6.5% of patients in acute care hospitals had at least one HAI. Hospital related costs in Europe are estimated at USD 12 billion per year. In Australia the burden of HAI has been calculated to be approximately 165,000 cases per year, rendering them the most common complication for hospital patients. Moreover, there are evidences showing the effectiveness of surgical gowns in reducing the incidence of HAIs. Despite this, there is a notable absence of wide scale usage of surgical gowns in clinical settings.