# Cotton Terry Textiles with Photo- and Bio-Activity in a Model Study and Real Conditions
## 3 Results
The dominating bacteria were: _Enterobacteriaceae_ (1.1 \(\times\) 10\({}^{5}\)-1.3 \(\times\) 10\({}^{5}\) CFU/cm\({}^{2}\)), _Enterococcus_ genus (4.4 \(\times\) 10\({}^{5}\)-1.3 \(\times\) 10\({}^{5}\) CFU/cm\({}^{2}\)) and _Pseudomonas_ genus (4.2 \(\times\) 10\({}^{3}\)-7.5 \(\times\) 10\({}^{3}\) CFU/cm\({}^{2}\)). The least number of the coli group and _Escherichia coli_ on control towels after 7 days (1.5 \(\times\) 10\({}^{1}\)-5.5 \(\times\) 10\({}^{1}\) CFU/cm\({}^{2}\)) was determined. The high number of bacteria on control towels is worth noting, namely above 10\({}^{5}\) CFU/cm\({}^{2}\) of the _Enterobacteriaceae_, _Enterococcus_ genus. No significant differences were found between the microbial contamination of control towels used in both bathrooms (Figure 7). In the case of photocatalytically modified towels after seven days of use, the number of all groups of microorganisms was lower than in the case of control towels. The reduction of the microorganism number on modified towels compared to the controls was 3-6 log, which indicates high biostatic activity, much higher than in the model study (1 log). The biostatic activity of modified towels used in real conditions was higher against all groups of microorganisms tested (A = 1.18-5.51) than textile materials in the model study (A = 0.4-1.62). The highest reduction of the number of microorganisms on modified towels was determined for bacteria. The number of _Enterobacteriaceae_, _Enterococcus_, the coli group and _E. coli_, and _Pseudomonas_ decreased to 0-5 CFU/cm\({}^{2}\). A low number of fungi on the modified towels was also noted (2.7 \(\times\) 10\({}^{1}\)-5.3 \(\times\) 10\({}^{1}\) CFU/cm\({}^{2}\)), while the number of bacteria was on the level of 5.7 \(\times\) 10\({}^{3}\)-1.5 \(\times\) 10\({}^{4}\) CFU/cm\({}^{2}\). There were no differences in microbiological contamination on the surface of modified and control towels in both types of bathrooms with artificial and natural lighting. The identification of dominant microorganisms on modified towels after seven days of use (frequency above 30%) showed the presence of _Staphylococcus_ (_S. hominis_, _S. xylosus_, _S. saprophyticus_, _S. lentus_, _S. warneri_) and _Kocuria varians_ bacteria, while _Candida parapsilosis_ and _Cryptococcus humicola_ were the dominant fungi. Microorganisms isolated from the modified towels belong to the natural skin microflora. Microbiological air contamination and the concentration of gases in the air of bathrooms during the use of the towels varied depending on the type of towels and the type of lighting in the bathroom (Table 5). In bathrooms where control towels were used, the total number of bacteria was 1.47 \(\times\) 10\({}^{3}\)-2.05 \(\times\) 10\({}^{3}\) CFU/m\({}^{3}\) and the total number of fungi 6.4 \(\times\) 10\({}^{1}\)-1.45 \(\times\) 10\({}^{2}\) CFU/m\({}^{3}\). These levels of microbial air contamination remained constant during the experiment. The number of bacteria in the air of both bathrooms and the number of fungi in the air of the bathroom with artificial lighting were higher than the level of 10\({}^{3}\) CFU/m\({}^{3}\) for bacteria and 10\({}^{2}\) CFU/m\({}^{3}\) for fungi, which indicates a high level of microbial air contamination. When modified towels were used, a decrease in the number of microorganisms in the air of bathrooms during the experiment was found, and the average number of microorganisms was: for bacteria 3.46 \(\times\) 10\({}^{2}\)-6.97 \(\times\) 10\({}^{2}\) CFU/m\({}^{3}\) and for fungi 1.40 \(\times\) 10\({}^{1}\)-3.55 \(\times\) 10\({}^{1}\) CFU/m\({}^{3}\). A statistically significant decrease in the number of bacteria and fungi in the air was found by almost 1 log compared to the bathroom where control towels were used. Moreover, significantly fewer microorganisms were found in the air in the bathroom with natural lighting where modified towels were used, than in the bathroom with artificial lighting, probably due to the greater activity of photocatalytic processes in natural lighting conditions.