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	48,004			48,004
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(281)	(281)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	47,723
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(44,490)		(44,490)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					131
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	24,751			17,109	$ 7,642
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					392
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	45,508				$ 45,508
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	77,107			77,107
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	(997)	(997)
Increase (Decrease) In Noncontrolling Interests, Other	87	87
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	$ 0.83
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 48,004			48,004
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(281)	(281)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	47,723
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(44,490)		(44,490)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					(131)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(24,751)			(17,109)	$ (7,642)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					392
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	45,508				$ 45,508
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(77,107)			(77,107)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	6,585,015	10,435	(36,817)	1,874,559	$ 4,736,838
Shares, Issued					99,746
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	69,811			69,811
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(186)	(186)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	69,625
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(68,916)		(68,916)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					71
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	14,081			8,215	$ 5,866
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					236
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	17,209				$ 17,209
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	42,959			42,959
Contributions from noncontrolling interest	(997)
Increase (Decrease) In Noncontrolling Interests, Other	$ 35	35
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.43
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 69,811			69,811
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(186)	(186)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	69,625
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(68,916)		(68,916)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					(71)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(14,081)			(8,215)	$ (5,866)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					236
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	17,209				$ 17,209
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(42,959)			(42,959)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	6,544,931
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent			(105,733)	1,893,196	$ 4,748,181
Noncontrolling interest		9,287
Shares, Issued					99,911
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent			(105,733)	1,893,196	$ 4,748,181
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		9,287
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	(204,023)			(204,023)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(453)	(453)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(204,476)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(388,340)		(388,340)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					357
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	69,922			10,153	$ 59,769
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					158
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	21,967				$ 21,967
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	89,981			89,981
Increase (Decrease) In Noncontrolling Interests, Other	$ (438)	(438)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.90
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (204,023)			(204,023)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(453)	(453)
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(204,476)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(388,340)		(388,340)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					(357)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(69,922)			(10,153)	$ (59,769)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					158
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	21,967				$ 21,967
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(89,981)			(89,981)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	6,419,128	11,580	(388,373)	2,057,175	$ 4,738,746
Shares, Issued					100,090
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	(315,285)			(315,285)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	54	54
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(315,231)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(209,775)		(209,775)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					231
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	45,243			(170)	$ 45,413
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					9
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	11,785				$ 11,785
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	46,973			46,973
Increase (Decrease) In Noncontrolling Interests, Other	$ (244)	(244)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 0.47
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (315,285)			(315,285)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	54	54
Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(315,231)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(209,775)		(209,775)
Treasury Stock, Shares, Acquired					(231)
Payments for Repurchase of Common Stock	(45,243)			170	$ (45,413)
Stock Issued During Period, Shares, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures					9
Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation, Net of Forfeitures	11,785				$ 11,785
Dividends, Common Stock, Cash	(46,973)			(46,973)
Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	5,813,447
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	5,802,057		(598,148)	1,695,087	$ 4,705,118
Noncontrolling interest	11,390	11,390
Shares, Issued					99,868
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	5,802,057		$ (598,148)	$ 1,695,087	$ 4,705,118
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 11,390	$ 11,390