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Despite widespread vaccination rates, we are living with high transmission rates of SARS‐CoV‐2. Although overall hospitalisation rates are falling, the risk of serious infection remains high for patients who are immunocompromised because of haematological malignancies. In light of the ongoing pandemic and the development of multiple agents for treatment, representatives from the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand and infectious diseases specialists have collaborated on this consensus position statement regarding COVID‐19 management in patients with haematological disorders. It is our recommendation that both patients with haematological malignancies and treating specialists be educated regarding the preventive and treatment options available and that patients continue to receive adequate vaccinations, keeping in mind the suboptimal vaccine responses that occur in haematology patients, in particular, those with B‐cell malignancies and on B‐cell‐targeting or depleting therapy. Patients with haematological malignancies should receive treatment for COVID‐19 in accordance with the severity of their symptoms, but even mild infections should prompt early treatment with antiviral agents. The issue of de‐isolation following COVID‐19 infection and optimal time to treatment for haematological malignancies is discussed but remains an area with evolving data. This position statement is to be used in conjunction with advice from infectious disease, respiratory and intensive care specialists, and current guidelines from the National COVID‐19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce and the New Zealand Ministry of Health and Cancer Agency Te Aho o Te Kahu COVID‐19 Guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Digital microscopy systems are beginning to replace traditional light microscopes for morphologic analysis of blood films, but these are geographically restricted to individual computers and technically limited by manufacturer's constraints. We explored the use of a scanner‐agnostic web‐based artificial intelligence (AI) system to assess the accuracy of white blood cell (WBC) differentials and blast identification in haematological malignancies. Methods: Digitized images of 20 normal and 124 abnormal peripheral blood films were uploaded to the web‐based platform (Techcyte©) and WBC differentials performed using the online AI software. Digital images were viewed for accuracy and manual cell reassignment was performed where necessary. Results were correlated to the 'gold standard' of manual microscopy for each WBC class, and sensitivity and specificity of blast identification were calculated. Results: The AI digital differential was very strongly correlated to microscopy (r >.8) for most normal cell types and did not require any manual reassignment. The AI digital differential was less reliable for abnormal blood films (r =.50‐.87), but could be greatly improved by manual assessment of digital images for most cell types (r >.95) with the exception of immature granulocytes (r =.62). For blast identification, initial AI digital differentials showed 96% sensitivity and 25% specificity, which was improved to 99% and 84%, respectively, after manual digital review. Conclusions: The Techcyte platform allowed remote viewing and manual analysis of digitized slides that was comparable to microscopy. The AI software produced adequate WBC differentials for normal films and had high sensitivity for blast identification in malignant films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Australia and New Zealand have achieved excellent community control of COVID‐19 infection. In light of the imminent COVID‐19 vaccination roll out in both countries, representatives from the Haematology Society of Australia and New Zealand and infectious diseases specialists have collaborated on this consensus position statement regarding COVID‐19 vaccination in patients with haematological disorders. It is our recommendation that patients with haematological malignancies, and some benign haematological disorders, should have expedited access to high‐efficacy COVID‐19 vaccines, given that these patients are at high risk of morbidity and mortality from COVID‐19 infection. Vaccination should not replace other public health measures in these patients, given that the effectiveness of COVID‐19 vaccination, specifically in patients with haematological malignancies, is not known. Given the limited available data, prospective collection of safety and efficacy data of COVID‐19 vaccination in this patient group is a priority. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Individuals diagnosed with a high-grade hematological malignancy are at high risk for psychosocial distress. This study aimed to examine the effectiveness of a web-based information tool and nurse delivered telephone support in reducing: (i) unmet information needs; (ii) depression; and (iii) anxiety, among hematological cancer patients and their support persons (SPs). Methods: Patients with a new diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Burkitt lymphoma, or lymphoblastic lymphoma and their SPs were enrolled in a prospective multi-site randomized trial. Participants received either access to an online information tool and telephone support from a hematology nurse, or usual care. Outcome data were collected 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks post-recruitment. The primary endpoint was unmet information needs. Results: Data from 60 patients and 15 SPs were included in the analysis. There were no statistically significant differences in unmet information needs, depression or anxiety between intervention and control groups for patients. Patients in both groups demonstrated a decrease in information needs over the intervention period. Post hoc analyses revealed that patients who did not achieve remission with the first cycle of treatment experienced increased anxiety from 4 weeks until the end of the study (p = 0.008). Conclusions: A web-based information tool and nurse delivered telephone support did not reduce unmet information needs, depression or anxiety among hematological cancer patients, however this finding is inconclusive given the low power of the study. Implications for Psychosocial Providers or Policy: Patients who do not achieve remission are at high risk of anxiety, and may benefit from targeted psychological intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is relatively common among patients with haematological malignancies. Management is challenging because many of these patients are also thrombocytopenic and at increased risk of bleeding. Current recommendations regarding the treatment of VTE in thrombocytopenic patients with haematological malignancies are limited as there only few studies evaluating the safety and efficacy of anticoagulation in this population of patient. A literature review on the safety of antithrombotic therapy for treatment or prophylaxis of VTE in patients with haematological malignancies was undertaken. This includes a report on 5 patients with haematological malignancies at our institute who received enoxaparin for treatment of VTE while thrombocytopenic. Unlike previous case series which showed that the use of LMWH (low molecular weight heparin) is safe in this group of patients, major bleeding occurred in 2 patients, and was fatal in one case. More studies are required to evaluate the risk factors and safety of anticoagulation in these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]