BACKGROUND: There is a pressing need for global surveillance of ESBL-producing METHODS: Four databases, including Embase, MEDLINE, PubMed and Web of Science, were searched for quantitative studies that reported prevalence data of faecal carriage of ESBL-producing RESULTS: Of the 25 studies (13 901 unique participants) included for final analysis, the overall pooled prevalence of ESBL CONCLUSIONS: The pooled prevalence of ESBL