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HSC Medicine, Dentistry and Healthcare Sciences Current Awareness Bulletins: Guidelines and Cochrane Reviews

Guidelines and Cochrane Reviews

Frequency: Monthly

Links to articles in the current and previous 2 issues of this bulletin are displayed below.

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July 2025

All content new unless specified as updated

Cochrane reviews

Antibiotics versus topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (updated)

Antiplatelet versus anticoagulation treatment for people with heart failure in sinus rhythm (updated)

Aural toilet (ear cleaning) for chronic suppurative otitis media (updated)

Brexanolone, zuranolone and related neurosteroid GABAA receptor positive allosteric modulators for postnatal depression

Community care navigation intervention for people who are at risk of unplanned hospital presentations

Community views on mass drug administration for soil‐transmitted helminths: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Controlled ovarian stimulation protocols for assisted reproduction: a network meta‐analysis

Corticosteroids for treating sepsis in children and adults (updated)

Cycle regimens for endometrial preparation prior to frozen embryo transfer (updated)

Early treatment versus expectant management of hemodynamically significant patent ductus arteriosus for preterm infants (updated)

Effects of combinations of diagnostic and treatment strategies for postpartum haemorrhage: a network meta‐analysis

Gonadotropin‐releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues for premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Hormonal contraception for women at risk of HIV infection

Interventions for central serous chorioretinopathy: a network meta‐analysis (updated)

Interventions for fertility preservation in women with cancer undergoing chemotherapy

Interventions to prevent obesity in children aged 2 to 4 years old

Low‐complexity manual nucleic acid amplification tests for pulmonary tuberculosis in children

Lymphadenectomy or sentinel node biopsy for the management of endometrial cancer

Multifaceted behavioral interventions to improve topical glaucoma therapy adherence in adults

Non‐invasive respiratory support in preterm infants as primary mode: a network meta‐analysis

Parallel use of low‐complexity automated nucleic acid amplification tests and lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assays to detect tuberculosis disease in adults and adolescents living with HIV

Parallel use of low‐complexity automated nucleic acid amplification tests on respiratory and stool samples with or without lateral flow lipoarabinomannan assays to detect pulmonary tuberculosis disease in children

Peripheral venous blood gas analysis for the diagnosis of respiratory failure, hypercarbia and metabolic disturbance in adults

Peritoneal drainage versus laparotomy as initial treatment for surgical necrotising enterocolitis or spontaneous intestinal perforation in preterm very low birth weight infants (updated)

Pharmacological interventions for the prevention of pain during endotracheal suctioning in ventilated neonates

Phosphate binders for preventing and treating chronic kidney disease‐mineral and bone disorder (CKD‐MBD) (updated)

Postextubation use of non‐invasive respiratory support in preterm infants: a network meta‐analysis

Probiotics in infants for prevention of allergic disease (updated)

Progestogen for preventing miscarriage in women with recurrent miscarriage of unclear etiology (updated)

Regional analgesia techniques for postoperative pain after breast cancer surgery: a network meta‐analysis

Silymarin for adults with metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease

Stapler versus scalpel resection followed by handsewn closure of the pancreatic remnant for distal pancreatectomy (updated)

Surgical approaches for inserting hemiarthroplasty of the hip in people with hip fractures

Systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media (updated)

Topical antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media (updated)

Topical antibiotics with steroids for chronic suppurative otitis media (updated)

Topical antiseptics for chronic suppurative otitis media (updated)

Topical versus systemic antibiotics for chronic suppurative otitis media (updated)

The use of telemedicine services for medical abortion

Virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation

NICE guidelines

Atezolizumab for adjuvant treatment of resected non-small-cell lung cancer (TA1071)

Caesarean birth (NG192 – updated)

Efgartigimod for treating antibody-positive generalised myasthenia gravis (TA1069)

Headaches in over 12s: diagnosis and management (CG150 – updated)

Intrapartum care (NG235 – updated)

Laparoscopic insertion of an inactive implant for gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (IPG803)

Linzagolix for treating symptoms of endometriosis (TA1067)

Marstacimab for treating severe haemophilia A or B in people 12 years and over without anti-factor antibodies (TA1073)

Somapacitan for treating growth hormone deficiency in people 3 to 17 years (TA1066)

Sparsentan for treating primary IgA nephropathy (TA1074)

Spesolimab for treating generalised pustular psoriasis flares (TA1070)

Targeted muscle reinnervation for managing limb amputation pain (IPG804)

Topical antimicrobial dressings for locally infected leg ulcers: late-stage assessment (HTE27)

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) for native aortic valve regurgitation (IPG805)

Other guidelines

Clinical management and infection prevention and control for mpox: living guideline, May 2025 (updated)

WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: module 3: diagnosis

WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: module 4: treatment and care

WHO guidelines for the treatment of patients with cystic echinococcosis

WHO guidelines on meningitis diagnosis, treatment and care

WHO guideline on the prevention of female genital mutilation and clinical management of complications

WHO guideline on preventing early pregnancy and poor reproductive outcomes among adolescents in low- and middle-income countries

Sources

Cochrane Library (Jun); NICE website (Jun); WHO website (Apr-Jun)

June 2025

All content new unless marked as updated

Cochrane reviews

Adjuvant epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for the treatment of people with resected stage I to III non‐small‐cell lung cancer and EGFR mutation

Anti‐IL‐12/23p40 antibodies for induction of remission in Crohn's disease (updated)

Atypical antipsychotics for autism spectrum disorder: a network meta‐analysis

Clinical pathways for secondary care and the effects on professional practice, patient outcomes, length of stay and hospital costs (updated)

Clinical utility of limited channel sleep studies versus polysomnography for obstructive sleep apnoea

Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases

Early discharge with home support of gavage feeding for stable preterm infants who have not established full oral feeds (updated)

Electromechanical‐assisted training for walking after stroke (updated)

Exercise for patellar tendinopathy

Fenestrated endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms

Interventions for idiopathic steroid‐resistant nephrotic syndrome in children (updated)

Melatonin in cancer treatment

Post‐incident debriefing for people with schizophrenia after coercive measures

Prognostic factors for return to work in breast cancer survivors

Prophylactic abdominal drainage for pancreatic surgery (updated)

Proton pump inhibitors for the prevention of non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drug‐induced ulcers and dyspepsia

Selected laboratory‐based biomarkers for assessing vitamin A deficiency in at‐risk individuals

Sustained‐release naltrexone for opioid dependence (updated)

Typhoid conjugate vaccines for preventing typhoid fever (enteric fever)

Ultrasound guidance versus anatomical landmarks for neuraxial anaesthesia in adults

Vaccines for preventing infections in adults with haematological malignancies

Yoga for fatigue in people with cancer

NICE guidelines

Abortion care (NG140 – updated)

Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for assessing and triaging skin lesions referred to the urgent suspected skin cancer pathway: early value assessment (HTE24)

Brentuximab vedotin in combination for untreated stage 3 or 4 CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma (TA1059)

Capivasertib with fulvestrant for treating hormone receptor-positive HER2-negative advanced breast cancer after endocrine treatment (TA1063)

Cenobamate for treating focal onset seizures in epilepsy (TA753 – updated)

COVID-19 rapid guideline: managing COVID-19 (NG191 – updated)

Digital therapy for chronic tic disorders and Tourette syndrome: early value assessment (HTE25)

Dostarlimab with platinum-based chemotherapy for treating primary advanced or recurrent endometrial cancer with high microsatellite instability or mismatch repair deficiency (TA1064)

Drug-eluting stents for treating coronary artery disease: late-stage assessment (HTE26)

Erdafitinib for treating unresectable or metastatic urothelial cancer with FGFR3 alterations after a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor (TA1062)

Nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir, sotrovimab and tocilizumab for treating COVID-19 (TA878 – updated)

Nivolumab plus ipilimumab for untreated unresectable or metastatic colorectal cancer with high microsatellite instability or mismatch repair deficiency (TA1065)

Osimertinib with pemetrexed and platinum-based chemotherapy for untreated EGFR mutation-positive advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (TA1060)

Suspected cancer: recognition and referral (NG12 – updated)

Sources

Cochrane Library (May); NICE website (May)

May 2025

All content new, unless marked as ‘updated’

Cochrane reviews

Abdominal drainage to prevent intraperitoneal abscess after appendectomy for complicated appendicitis (updated)

Acupuncture for procedural pain in newborn infants

Blood transfusion strategies for major bleeding in trauma

Clinical rating scales for assessing pain in newborn infants

Closure of mesenteric defects for prevention of internal hernia after Roux‐en‐Y gastric bypass in bariatric surgery

Delayed initiation or reduced initial dose of calcineurin‐inhibitors for kidney transplant recipients at high risk of delayed graft function

Delivery of intravenous anti‐cancer therapy at home versus in hospital or community settings for adults with cancer

Digital tracking, provider decision support systems, and targeted client communication via mobile devices to improve primary health care

Drug treatment for myotonia (updated)

Endovascular thrombectomy with versus without intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke

Entecavir for children and adults with chronic hepatitis B

Factors that influence caregivers’ and adolescents’ views and practices regarding human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for adolescents: a qualitative evidence synthesis

Gonadotropins for ovulation induction in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (updated)

Interventions for preventing diarrhoea‐associated haemolytic uraemic syndrome (updated)

Interventions for smokeless tobacco use cessation

Lutein and zeaxanthin for reducing morbidity and mortality in preterm infants

Melatonin in cancer treatment

Preoperative medical therapy before surgery for uterine fibroids

Prevention of infection in aortic or aortoiliac peripheral arterial reconstruction

Prophylactic antibiotics for uterine evacuation procedures to manage miscarriage

Psychological interventions for treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (updated)

Surgical interventions for presbyopia

Switching antipsychotics versus continued current treatment in people with non‐responsive schizophrenia

Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) blocks for prevention of postoperative pain in women undergoing laparoscopic and robotic gynaecological surgery

Treatment for ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (updated)

Uterotonic agents for preventing postpartum haemorrhage: a network meta‐analysis (updated)

Vaccines for preventing infections in adults with solid tumours

NICE guidelines

Balloon disimpaction of the baby's head at emergency caesarean during the second stage of labour (IPG800)

Burosumab for treating X-linked hypophosphataemia in children and young people (HST8 – updated)

Cladribine for treating active relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis (TA1053)

Early and locally advanced breast cancer: diagnosis and management (NG101 – updated)

Efanesoctocog alfa for treating and preventing bleeding episodes in haemophilia A in people 2 years and over (TA1051)

Falls (QS86 – updated)

Falls: assessment and prevention in older people and in people 50 and over at higher risk (NG249)

Leniolisib for treating activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase delta syndrome in people 12 years and over (HST33)

Molnupiravir for treating COVID-19 (TA1056)

Olipudase alfa for treating acid sphingomyelinase deficiency (Niemann–Pick disease) type AB and type B (HST32)

Relugolix–estradiol–norethisterone for treating symptoms of endometriosis (TA1057)

Robot-assisted surgery for orthopaedic procedures: early value assessment (HTE22)

Robot-assisted surgery for soft tissue procedures: early value assessment (HTE21)

Rucaparib for maintenance treatment of advanced ovarian, fallopian tube and peritoneal cancer after response to first-line platinum-based chemotherapy (TA1055)

Ruxolitinib for treating acute graft versus host disease that responds inadequately to corticosteroids in people 12 years and over (TA1054)

Slide sheets for moving or repositioning a person: late-stage assessment (HTE23)

RQIA review report

Analysis of Serious Adverse Incidents Reported to RQIA Where the diagnosis is Addictions / Substance Misuse, September 2024 (Updated April 2025)

SIGN guideline

SIGN 50: a guideline developer's handbook

Sources

Cochrane Library (Apr); NICE website (Apr); RQIA website (Apr); SIGN website (Mar-Apr)

Disclaimer

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