In this work we present a study of impact of textile materials used in health care facilities on microbial colonization of textile surfaces. Polypropylene yarns doped with silver phosphate glass and zinc pyrithione were prepared and used for production of bed sheets and clothing for healthcare personnel. Subsequently measurements of airborne particles and viable microorganisms on given textiles were conducted in a private surgery clinic during 3 weeks comparing the counts of viable microorganisms before and after replacing of staff clothing and bedding on examination and surgical bed with said polypropylene cloth. In this study a significant reduction of viable airborne fungi and viable microorganisms on monitored textiles was observed by multiple methods.

Functionalised textiles are produced eighter by surface treatment of textiles and by knitting or weaving of yarns and fibers with surface modification, or additive incorporated by compounding. Photocatalytic activity of oxides used as pigments TiO₂ and ZnO can be utilized to add antimicrobial and self-cleaning properties to polymerbased fibers and yarns. False twist textured polypropylene yarns containing micronized titanium dioxide, zinc oxide and α-ferric oxide, as well as control sample without oxide pigment, were produced by means of compounding, melt spinning and false-twist texturizing. Knitted textiles made of these yarns were subsequently tested for photocatalytic activity, using sodium salicylate as a model pollutant in indoor conditions and a solution of dye Orange II for solar test in aqueous environment and solar irradiation. Although for indoor conditions both TiO₂ and ZnO showed similar level of activity, reducing the half-time for sodium salicylate break-down by 23% and 24% respectively, this reaction may be considered slow for practical application. In contrast, almost 80% of Orange II was broken down in 24 hours on TiO₂ doped textile in experiment with simulated solar irradiation.

In this work, an in situ study is presented of the impact of textile materials used in healthcare facilities on microbial colonization of textile surfaces. The available literature describes antimicrobial active textiles and their effectiveness in laboratory conditions. However, the quantification of the impact on the microbiome of healthcare facilities has not been investigated so far. Polypropylene yarns doped with silver phosphate glass and zinc pyrithione were prepared and used for the production of bed sheets and clothing for healthcare personnel. Subsequently, measurements of airborne particles and viable microorganisms on given textiles were conducted in a private surgery clinic for 3 weeks, comparing the counts of viable microorganisms before and after replacing staff clothing and bedding on examination and the surgical bed with said polypropylene cloth. A significant reduction in airborne particles and viable microorganisms was expected based on previous studies on the use of polypropylene textiles in operating rooms. In this study, a significant reduction in viable airborne fungi and viable microorganisms on monitored textiles was observed by multiple methods. However, the effect on airborne microorganisms seems insignificant in areas with frequent patient traffic. The textile described here represents a new additional way of protecting patients and medical personnel from healthcare-associated infections while using a modification of proven production procedures and commercially usable materials without legislative restrictions.