CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Statement - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]	AOCI Attributable to Parent [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Common Stock [Member]
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 3,891,468	$ 10,478	$ (61,243)	$ 1,939,408	$ 2,002,825
Shares, Issued					85,353
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	191,627			191,627
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(810)	(810)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	190,817
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(75,635)		(75,635)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					225
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	27,628			21,047	$ 6,581
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					686
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	54,465				$ 54,465
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	120,118			120,118
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,672	3,672
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	997	997
Increase (Decrease) In Noncontrolling Interests, Other	135	135
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Acquisitions					14,297
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Acquisitions	2,689,317				$ 2,689,317
Consideration related to equity component of Cantel Convertible Debt	175,555				175,555
Consideration Related to Cantel Equity Compensation Programs	18,173				18,173
Reclassification to Cantel convertible debt, premium liability	$ (175,555)				$ (175,555)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 1.26
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 191,627			191,627
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(810)	(810)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	190,817
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(75,635)		(75,635)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					(225)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(27,628)			(21,047)	$ (6,581)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					686
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	54,465				$ 54,465
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(120,118)			(120,118)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	997	997
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	6,544,931	9,287	(105,733)	1,893,196	$ 4,748,181
Shares, Issued					99,911
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	143,623			143,623
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(529)	(529)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	143,094
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(31,145)		(31,145)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					95
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	2,877			3,938	$ (1,061)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					295
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	8,957				$ 8,957
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	43,011			43,011
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	3,672	3,672
Increase (Decrease) In Noncontrolling Interests, Other	$ 48	48
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.43
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 143,623			143,623
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(529)	(529)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	143,094
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(31,145)		(31,145)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					(95)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(2,877)			(3,938)	$ 1,061
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					295
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	8,957				$ 8,957
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(43,011)			(43,011)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	6,623,669
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent			(136,878)	1,989,870	$ 4,758,199
Noncontrolling interest		12,478
Shares, Issued					100,111
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent			(136,878)	1,989,870	$ 4,758,199
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		12,478
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	6,544,637	12,281	(209,808)	1,999,244	$ 4,742,920
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	6,532,356
Noncontrolling interest	12,281
Shares, Issued					100,067
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	6,532,356
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	12,281
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(80,195)			(80,195)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(956)	(956)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(81,151)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(154,355)		(154,355)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					850
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	153,952			11,379	$ 142,573
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					183
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	31,356				$ 31,356
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	136,898			136,898
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	794	794
Increase (Decrease) In Noncontrolling Interests, Other	$ (323)	(323)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 1.37
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (80,195)			(80,195)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(956)	(956)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(81,151)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(154,355)		(154,355)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					(850)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(153,952)			(11,379)	$ (142,573)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					183
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	31,356				$ 31,356
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(136,898)			(136,898)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	794	794
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	5,813,447	11,390	(598,148)	1,695,087	$ 4,705,118
Shares, Issued					99,868
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	123,828			123,828
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(503)	(503)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	123,325
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	233,985		233,985
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					493
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	84,030			1,226	$ 82,804
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					25
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	9,389				$ 9,389
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	46,917			46,917
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	794	794
Increase (Decrease) In Noncontrolling Interests, Other	$ 115	115
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.47
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 123,828			123,828
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(503)	(503)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	123,325
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	233,985		233,985
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					(493)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(84,030)			(1,226)	$ (82,804)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					25
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	9,389				$ 9,389
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(46,917)			(46,917)
Noncontrolling Interest, Decrease from Distributions to Noncontrolling Interest Holders	794	794
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	6,048,520
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	6,038,312		(364,163)	1,770,772	$ 4,631,703
Noncontrolling interest	10,208	10,208
Shares, Issued					99,400
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	6,038,312		$ (364,163)	$ 1,770,772	$ 4,631,703
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 10,208	$ 10,208