Dr. Michael Niederman, Clinical Director, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, was recently featured in an article in ISICEM News, the official daily newsletter of the 36th International Symposium on Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine. Dr. Niederman provided his perspective on whether, and how, VAP (ventilation-associated pneumonia) can be prevented in the ICU. An ongoing challenge that involves a complex set of issues, studies suggest that half of all VAP is preventable. Dr. Niederman, who has authored more than 300 papers in the peer-reviewed journals, discussed the importance of understanding one's own ICU setting, the need for biomarkers and rapid molecular diagnostic tests on lower respiratory tract secretions, and other problematic areas from ventilator devices to oral care.