Communiques

Communique #82

22 May, 2023

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Communique #81

26 April, 2023

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Communique #80

27 March, 2023

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Communique #79

20 February, 2023

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Communique #78

20 December, 2022

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Communique #77

7 December, 2022

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Communique #76

2 December, 2022

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Communique #75

18 November, 2022

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Communique #74

11 November, 2022

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Communique #73

27 October, 2022

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Communique

Communique #72

27 September, 2022

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Communique #71

16 September, 2022

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Communique #70

17 August, 2022

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Communique #69

2 August, 2022

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Communique #68

22 July, 2022

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Communique #67

7 July, 2022

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Communique #66

9 June, 2022

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Communique #65

9 May, 2022

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Communique #64

8 April, 2022

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Communique #63

5 April, 2022

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Communique #62

31 March, 2022

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Communique #61

25 March, 2022

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Communique #60

17 March, 2022

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Communique

Communique #59

7 March, 2022

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Communique

Communique #58

18 February, 2022

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Communique #57

3 February, 2022

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Communique #56

31 January, 2022

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Communique

Communique #55

17 December, 2021

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Communique

Communique #54

26 November, 2021

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Communique

Communique #53

12 November, 2021

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Communique

Communique #52

29 October, 2021

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Communique

Communique #51

15 October, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW Updates to the Living Treatment Guidelines New recommendations New recommendation for Continuous positive airway pressure / High-flow nasal oxygen therapy The Hospital and Acute Care...

Communique

Communique #50

29 September, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW Updates to the Living Treatment Guideline New recommendations Seven new treatment recommendations for pregnant and breastfeeding women Sotrovimab for pregnant women Following recent recommendations for the...

Communique

Communique #49

26 August, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW Taskforce makes new conditional recommendation for sotrovimab The Taskforce today published three recommendations on the use of sotrovimab for the treatment of COVID-19 in adults...

Communique

Communique #48

5 August, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW Taskforce amends remarks for Tocilizumab in response to critical shortage This week the Taskforce was alerted by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to a global tocilizumab shortage...

Communique

Communique #47

1 July, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW Updates to the Living Treatment Guideline New recommendations Three new recommendations for the use of Casirivimab plus imdevimab (REGEN-COV) The Disease-Modifying Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis Panel...

Communique

Communique #46

10 June, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW Taskforce publishes guidance to help healthcare workers and organisations make decisions about PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic Following today’s publication of the Infection Control Expert...

Communique

Communique #45

3 June, 2021

Dear colleagues, On behalf of our 32 Taskforce members, we acknowledge our Victorian colleagues during another challenging and anxious time. Look after yourselves and each other, and we all hope an easing of...

Communique

Communique #44

24 May, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW UPDATES TO THE LIVING GUIDELINE New recommendations Baricitinib upgraded to a conditional recommendation The Disease-Modifying Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis Panel has reviewed the latest evidence for...

Communique

Communique #43

10 May, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW Taskforce reaches consensus on first IPC recommendations On Monday 03 May, the Taskforce provided the Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) with the final draft of the...

Communique

Communique #42

22 April, 2021

Message from the Chair and Executive Director Dear Colleagues We’ve just passed 12-months since the first publication of the Australian clinical guidelines for the care of people with COVID-19....

Communique

Communique #41

1 April, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW UPDATES TO THE LIVING GUIDELINE Convalescent plasma recommendation changed to 'do not use' The Taskforce Disease Modifying and Chemoprophylaxis Panel and the Guidelines Leadership Group have incorporated...

Communique

Communique #40

18 March, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW UPDATES TO THE LIVING GUIDELINE New recommendation for tocilizumab in children or adolescents Further to the Taskforce's recent recommendation for the conditional use of tocilizumab for adults (25...

Communique

Communique #39

25 February, 2021

WEEK IN REVIEW UPDATES TO THE LIVING GUIDELINE Tocilizumab upgraded to conditional recommendation The Taskforce Disease Modifying Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis Panel and the Guidelines Leadership Group have incorporated...

Communique

Communique #38

11 February, 2021

Message from the Taskforce Chair Dear colleagues As we enter the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic it is timely to acknowledge the important role of the Taskforce’s...

Communique

Communique #37

29 January, 2021

Following a well-earned break, the Taskforce team has now returned to full capacity. Global evidence surveillance continued throughout January, with six clinical panel meetings held since January 11....

Communique

Weekly Communique #36

17 December, 2020

Dear colleagues, It’s hard to fully comprehend a year like 2020. The pandemic has affected us all and no doubt its impact will continue and reverberate for some...

Communique

Weekly Communique #35

10 December, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Updates to the living guideline New recommendations published this week cover: Combined metabolic cofactor supplementation (CMCS) Vitamin D analogues (formerly just calcifediol, now also includes cholecalciferol) Updated...

Communique

Weekly Communique #34

3 December, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Updates to the living guideline New recommendations published this week cover: Dutasteride Oestrogen-containing therapies (including menopause hormone therapies (MHT) and contraceptives). These recommendations were developed by the...

Communique

Weekly Communique #33

26 November, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Updates to the living guideline Three new recommendations have been published this week covering: Bamlanivimab Fluvoxamine Intravenous immunoglobulin VTE prophylaxis for children and adolescents Further details are...

Communique

Weekly Communique #32

19 November, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW BREAKING NEWS: Australian-led REMAP-CAP Trial reports benefit of tocilizumab for critically ill patients with COVID-19. The REMAP-CAP investigators led by Prof Steve Webb, Monash University, have this...

Communique

Weekly Communique #31

12 November, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW IPC Panel EOI for paediatric and clinical engineering expertise The Taskforce is calling for Expressions of Interest from suitably qualified individuals with paediatric or clinical...

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Weekly Communique #30

5 November, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Bromhexine hydrochloride added to list of 'only in clinical trials' The Disease-Modifying Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis Panel has reviewed two new trial results for bromhexine hydrochloride (commonly...

Communique

Weekly Communique #29

29 October, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Updates to the living guideline this week New recommendations Three new recommendations have been published covering: Triazavirin Other immunomodulatory agents (PIMS-TS) Aspirin and antithrombotic agents...

Communique

Weekly Communique #28

22 October, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW SAVING LIVES SAFELY: New CPR flowcharts published today The Taskforce, in partnership with the Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG), has published new clinical flowcharts to guide clinicians...

Communique

Weekly Communique #27

15 October, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW New PIMS-TS recommendations The Taskforce has made two new consensus recommendations for the management of children with suspected or confirmed Paediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2...

Communique

Weekly Communique #26

8 October, 2020

With our evidence team and panels taking a much-needed break, a smaller edition today with no new recommendations or updates to the guidelines and flowcharts this week. Our next update will be next Thursday,...

Communique

Weekly Communique #25

1 October, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW List of drugs not recommended for use outside of clinical trials continues to grow The Disease-Modifying Treatment and Chemoprophylaxis Panel has reviewed new trial results for...

Communique

Weekly Communique #24

24 September, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Six-month milestone for the Taskforce There was great anxiety among clinicians back in March, as Australia prepared to face the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the...

Communique

Weekly Communique #23

17 September, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW New recommendations on VTE prophylaxis for pregnant and postpartum women The Pregnancy and Perinatal Care Panel together with the Expert Advisory Group have developed four new consensus...

Communique

Weekly Communique #22

11 September, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Commonwealth announces new ICEG/Taskforce partnership Commonwealth Minister for Health, the Hon Greg Hunt MP, this week announced the establishment of a new partnership between the Infection...

Communique

Weekly Communique #21

3 September, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW New recommendations for children and adolescents, and pregnant women The Paediatric and Adolescent Care Panel have developed two new consensus recommendations for respiratory support covering...

Communique

Weekly Communique #20

27 August, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW The Care of Older People and Palliative Care Panel has published a clinical flowchart for the Management of people with COVID-19 who are older and living...

Communique

Weekly Communique #19

20 August, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW New recommendations for Child and Adolescent Care It has been a busy week for the Child and Adolescent Care Panel with two new consensus recommendations...

Communique

Weekly Communique #18

13 August, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW New pregnancy and perinatal care recommendation: Skin-to-skin contact This week the Pregnancy and Perinatal Care Panel made a consensus recommendation on skin-to-skin contact between parent...

Communique

Weekly Communique #17

6 August, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW 'Do not use': The Taskforce has strengthened its recommendation against the use of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for COVID-19 This week the Taskforce upgraded the strength...

Communique

Weekly Communique #16

30 July, 2020

Dear colleagues, On behalf of all members of the Taskforce, we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge our Victorian colleagues caring for people with COVID-19 during...

Communique

Weekly Communique #15

23 July, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Rooming-in recommendation The Pregnancy and Perinatal Care Panel have made their third conditional recommendation. This week's concerns Rooming-in: For women with COVID-19 who have given birth,...

Communique

Weekly Communique #14

16 July, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW This week we experienced a shift in the level of alert among the clinicians who form Australia's frontline healthcare response to COVID-19, particularly in Victoria....

Communique

Weekly Communique #13

9 July, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW COVID-19 and breastfeeding Following last week's recommendation on mode of birth, the Taskforce has now made a conditional recommendation on breastfeeding. Breastfeeding is supported irrespective of...

Communique

Weekly Communique #12

2 July, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Taskforce makes first recommendation on Dexamethasone The Taskforce has made two conditional recommendations on the use of dexamethasone in treatment of patients with COVID-19: Consider...

Communique

Weekly Communique #11

25 June, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Dexamethasone now under review by the Taskforce Following Tuesday's (23 June) pre-print release of results of the dexamethesaone arm of the UK's RECOVERY study, the...

Communique

Weekly Communique #10

18 June, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Dexamethasone and RECOVERY Trial  Oxford University's media release detailing preliminary results from the dexamethasone arm of the RECOVERY Trial dominated international headlines. In response, the...

Communique

Weekly Communique #9

11 June, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Time to acknowledge our expert volunteer contributions It's hard to believe that it's been 12 weeks since the Taskforce's first panel meeting. What began with...

Communique

Weekly Communique #8

4 June, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW Taskforce issues first conditional recommendation for use of an antiviral treatment for COVID-19 This week, the Taskforce has issued a conditional recommendation on the use of remdesivir: "Whenever possible...

Communique

Weekly Communique #7

28 May, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW The Taskforce has issued a consensus recommendation to consider increased-dose venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis for adults with severe to critical COVID-19. This recommendation was developed with input from thrombosis specialists on the Taskforce's...

Communique

Weekly Communique #6

21 May, 2020

Dear Taskforce Members and Contributors, Welcome to our new look electronic communique. We hope to provide you with weekly updates in a simple and efficient format so should...

Communique

Weekly Communique #5

14 May, 2020

TASKFORCE UPDATE This week we welcomed the Australian and New Zealand Society for Geriatric Medicine as a new member of the Taskforce. Two new expert guideline panels have...

Communique

Weekly Communique #4

8 May, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW We welcomed the following new members to the Taskforce: Australian College of Midwives Key new topics of discussion across the panels this week included: Publication...

Communique

Weekly Communique #3

30 April, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW We welcomed the following new members to the Taskforce: College for Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology...

Communique

Weekly Communique #2

23 April, 2020

WEEK IN REVIEW The Consumers Health Forum (CHF) is an official community partner of the Taskforce. We met this week to develop a consumer engagement strategy; two consumer...

Communique

Weekly Communique #1

16 April, 2020

In the midst of another whirlwind week for all of us, it has been encouraging to see the substantial progress of the Taskforce, and also to feel an...

Communique