<![CDATA[Airborne microbial contamination remains a persistent threat to patient safety in clinical settings, and conventional bioaerosol control strategies, particularly HEPA-based filtration, are limited by their inability to inactivate trapped microorganisms, which can continue to proliferate within the filter and recirculate into the air. This study presents a preliminary field evaluation of pyrrolidone-doped cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibers integrated into a mobile air filtration unit, aimed at reducing airborne microbial burden in a real clinical environment. The filtration unit was deployed for four weeks in an observation ward at a general hospital, and antibacterial efficacy was assessed using in situ filter sampling and active air sampling, with isolate identification performed via 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The pyrrolidone-doped CA filter achieved a significant reduction in bacterial colony counts of 51.70% at week 1 (p < 0.05), though the reduction observed at week 4 (21.68%) was not statistically significant. Active air sampling showed corresponding, non-significant reductions in airborne bacterial load of 9.52% at week 1 and 5% at week 4. Four bacterial genera were isolated from the ward air, namely Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Priestia, and Acinetobacter, including Acinetobacter baumannii, a WHO priority pathogen associated with multidrug resistance. These findings provide preliminary evidence that pyrrolidone-doped CA nanofiber filtration can meaningfully reduce short-term airborne bacterial burden in a clinical setting, while also highlighting a decline in efficacy over prolonged use that warrants further investigation into filter longevity and replacement intervals. Larger-scale, controlled studies are needed to validate this strategy as a viable adjunct for improving indoor air quality and reducing hospital-acquired infection risk.]]>
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