To provide an inexpensive nonwoven web which has an improved combination of strength, abrasion resistance, barrier characteristics, coverability and softness and can be sterilized without remarkably deteriorating the characteristics of the fiber web and/or without producing an unpleasant odor.

The multiple component spun-bonded nonwoven web is provided from continuous multiple component fibers which include a polyester component and a polyethylene component. The polyethylene component is a linear low density polyethylene composition which has a density, melt index, and polydispersivity falling within specified ranges to provide an improved balance of spinning and spun-bonded fabric properties compared to similar spun-bonded fabrics which are formed from a linear low density polyethylene having a density and/or melt index and/or polydispersivity falling outside the specified ranges. The spun-bonded fibers are preferably formed in a sheath-core configuration with the polyester component in the core and the linear low density polyethylene component in the sheath.