A com. polyamide-polyethylene film was plasma-pretreated in Ar, optionally covered with a SiO2 layer, plasma-coated with EtCOOH at 25-60 degrees C under atm. pressure and then studied for contact angle, steam permeability, surface topog., layer thickness and antibacterial activity. The films corered with SiO2 and then with EtCOOH at 60 degrees C showed the highest antibacterial activity (59%). The films may be used as active food packaging.