Acta Microbiologica Hellenica, volume 69, issue 4, pages 274-284

Clinical and Prognostic Utility of Cycle Threshold (Ct) Value of SARS-CoV-2 in Pediatric Population: Single-Center Experience

Francesco Gambilonghi ¹

Valeria Fichera ¹

Vincenzo Sortino ²

Patrizia Grassi ³

Ausilia Desiree Collotta ²

Marco Simone Vaccalluzzo ⁴

ALFREDO PULVIRENTI ⁵

Silvia Marino ²

Martino Ruggieri ⁶

Salvatore Castiglione ⁷

Raffaele Falsaperla ⁸

Show full list: 11 authors

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Postgraduate Training Program in Pediatrics, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy |

Unit of Pediatrics and Pediatric Emergency, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95121 Catania, Italy |

Microbiology Section, Analysis Laboratory, San Marco Hospital, 95121 Catania, Italy |

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Department of General Surgery and Medical Surgical Specialties, Section of Orthopaedics, A.O.U. Policlinico Rodolico-San Marco, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy |

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Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy |

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Unit of Clinical Pediatrics, AOU “Policlinico”, PO “G. Rodolico”, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy |

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Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, San Marco Hospital, University Hospital Policlinico “G. Rodolico-San Marco”, 95121 Catania, Italy |

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Department of Medical Science-Pediatrics, University of Ferrara, 44124 Ferrara, Italy |

Publication type: Journal Article

Publication date: 2024-11-28

MDPI

Journal: Acta Microbiologica Hellenica

scimago Q4

SJR: 0.108

CiteScore: 0.2

Impact factor: —

ISSN: 04389573, 24594113, 28139054

DOI: 10.3390/amh69040025

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Abstract

The cycle threshold (Ct) value of PCR, used to detect SARS-CoV-2 viral load, has been associated with disease severity in adults, but few studies have examined these relationships in pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between the Ct value at hospital admission and the duration of fever, length of hospital stay, and the need for medical interventions in pediatric patients with COVID-19. We conducted a retrospective study of 124 pediatric patients with a positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 between April 2020 and March 2022. A negative correlation was observed between the Ct value and the duration of fever (p = 0.012), with a similar trend for length of hospital stay (p = 0.25). A low Ct value was also associated with the development of MIS-C (p = 0.026) and the need for respiratory support and steroid therapy (p = 0.036). The Ct value may be useful in stratifying pediatric patients with COVID-19, helping to predict the duration of fever and hospital stay, as well as the need for medical interventions.