Abstract: A self-sanitizing handrail system includes an elongate handle extending along a central axis and including an exterior surface graspable by users of the handrail system, an annular sanitizing module positioned around the handle and including an outer housing and a sanitizer positioned in the housing and configured to sanitize by a sanitizing light emitted by the sanitizer pathogens located on the exterior surface of the handle, a linear drive extending along the central axis of the handle and coupled to the sanitizing module, and a motor coupled to the linear drive and configured to transport the sanitizing module rectilinearly along the central axis of the handle in response to activation of the motor.