Medford AR. et al

About this article:"This another study comparing quantitative BAL and ETA cultures for the diagnosis of VAP. Authors found a higher diagnostic yield and  higher rates of de-escalation when comparing BAL  to ETA culture results. Currently, BAL is the most accepted sampling strategy for VAP. However, its implementation is still far to be optimal. In fact ETA cultures are the most widely sampling techniques used  in the recent EUROVAP survey."

Hortal J. et al

About this article:"This is a prospective observational study on the detection of risk factors  to develop VAP in patients undergoing   major heart surgery. The overall crude incidence was 5.7%. However, the incidence increased to 46% in patients that needed more than 48 h of mechanical ventilation.

Zaccard CR. et al

About this article:"Bilateral BAL for the diagnosis of VAP has been advocated for some groups to improve the diagnostic yield. This study in trauma critically ill patients suggests that bilateral sampling does not improve the operative values of unilateral sampling. Unilateral right sampling was  better compared to left sampling.These results can not be extrapolated to ARDS patients with bilateral involvement"

 Zahr JR. et al

About this article:"Risk factors to develop VAP depend on several factors wich include host variables, antibiotic policies and prevention strategies.  Identifying risk factors for VAP is useful to construct bench marking models . In this study authors provide an interesting bench marking model to be used for quality measurement purposes. This model still needs external validation"

Pirracchio R. et al 

About this article:"This is  an interesting study aimed to determine the microbial prediction of VAP occurred the 5 first days when using endotracheal aspirates immediately after ICU admission. The "gold standard" was the protected specimen brush. Since specificity and likelihood ratios of these samples were very high, authors recommend to use these type of samples  for guiding initial antibiotic therapy in VAP. These results can not be extrapolated to VAP occurring after 5 days of ICU admission"

 Feider LL. et al

About this article:"Oral care in mechanically ventilated patients is gaining importance. This study  shows the results of an  oral care  survey that was evaluated for face validity, content validity and stability and reliability psichometric properties.These type of surveys  are very important in order to know the real care in a single institution and to adopt correction measures if necessary."