A natural history museum visitor survey of perception, attitude and knowledge (PAK) of microbes and antibiotics

A kiosk-based survey at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City 2016–2018 allowed us to assess public knowledge antibiotics and attitudes toward microbes museum goers. Over 22,000 visitors from 172 countries territories answered several carefully designed questions about antibiotics. These also entered age, gender, country demographic data that for stratification along these geographic divisions. Because goers are likely be better informed other science-based topics, results described here can set a potential upper bound on topics. Surprisingly, our analysis goers’ answers indicate substantial lack familiarity with both For example, overall only 50% respondents correctly identify penicillin as an antibiotic less than view beneficial. The suggest we perhaps off target educational efforts this area major shift approach more basic microbial topics is warranted efforts.