Table 1.

Science and society – communication barriers

The stakeholders	Challenge
Media	Preoccupation with sensationalism rather than truth Over-simplification and mis-portrayal of concepts such as hygiene, probiotics, and microbiota Assumption that the readership cannot understand complex concepts
Medical/clinical professionals	Lagging behind the science Medical curricula focus on threat of infection rather than benefits of indigenous microbiota Inadequately equipped to address patients’ questions on information acquired from the media Inadequate response by the medical establishment to inaccurate and misleading material presented in the media
Scientists	Excessive use of hyperbole Poor language Failure to standardise terminology and methodology
Policy makers and Public health officials	Ineffective and mixed messages to the public Excessive focus on antibiotic resistance rather than risk of collateral damage to microbiota in promoting judicious use of antibiotics Poor communication of influence of diet on microbiota
Lay public	Poor conceptualisation of risk versus benefit Inadequately served by media for appraisal of medical and scientific claims