BackgroundExtended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producingKlebsiella pneumoniae(ESBL-KP) andEscherichia coli(ESBL-EC) present a high burden in both communities and healthcare sectors, leading to difficult-to-treat infections. Data on intestinal carriage of ESBL-KP and ESBL-EC in children is scarce, especially in sub-Saharan African countries. We provide data on faecal carriage, phenotypic resistance patterns, and gene variation of ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP among children in the Agogo region of Ghana.MethodsFrom July to December 2019, fresh stool samples were collected within 24 h from children < 5 years with and without diarrhoea attending the study hospital. The samples were screened for ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP on ESBL agar and confirmed using double-disk synergy testing. Bacterial identification and an antibiotic susceptibility profile were performed using the Vitek 2 compact system (bioMérieux, Inc.). ESBL genes,blaSHV,blaCTX-M, andblaTEM were identified by PCR and further sequencing.ResultsOf the 435 children recruited, stool carriage of ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP was 40.9% (n/N = 178/435) with no significant difference in prevalence between children with diarrhoea and non-diarrhoea. No association between ESBL carriage and the age of the children was found. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin and susceptible to meropenem and imipenem. Both ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP isolates showed over 70% resistance to tetracycline and sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim. Multidrug resistance was observed in over 70% in both ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP isolates. TheblaCTX-M-15 was the most prevalent ESBL gene detected.blaCTX-M-27,blaCTX-M-14, andblaCTX-M-14b were found in non-diarrhoea stools of children, whereasblaCTX-M-28 was found in both the diarrhoea and non-diarrhoea patient groups.ConclusionsThe carriage of ESBL-EC and ESBL-KP among children with and without diarrhoea in the Agogo community with a high prevalence ofblaCTX-M-15 is noteworthy, highlighting the importance of both the population as a possible reservoir. This study reports for the first time the ESBL geneblaCTX-M-28 among the studied populations in Ghana.