Table 2 Pooled prevalence (%) of resistance to antibiotics in faecal E. coli from asymptomatic children (see Additional files 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12 for corresponding Forest plots)

Tetracycline

37.7 %

(25.9–49.7 %)

2438

13

(9 countries)

19.5 %

[16, 17, 20, 21, 23–26, 29–32, 35]

80.0 %

(59.7–95.3 %)

5401

10

(8 countries)

62.9 %

[36–38, 40–45, 47]

Ampicillin

37.6 %

(24.9–54.3 %)

3053

15

(11 countries)

34.6 %

[16–19, 21, 22, 24–26, 29–32, 34, 35]

67.2 %

(45.8–84.9 %)

6139

12

(10 countries)

58.1 %

[36–45, 47]

Trimethoprim

28.6 %

(2.2–71.0 %)

862

7

(4 countries)

47.2 %

[22, 26, 28, 29, 33–35]

81.3 %

(40.4–100 %)

359

2

(3 countries)

50.3 %

[29, 42]

Chloramphenicol

13.4 %

(5.2–24.0 %)

2224

11

(8 countries)

58.1 %

[16, 17, 21, 23, 25, 26, 29–32, 35]

44.5 %

(24.1–66.6 %)

5665

10

(9 countries)

39.0 %

[37–39, 41–45, 47, 48]

Co-trimoxazole

10.8 %

(5.7–16.7 %)

1007

4

(4 countries)

33.5 %

[16, 17, 19, 21]

59.5 %

(31.3–85.7 %)

5439

10

(6 countries)

61.4 %

[36–41, 43–45, 47]

Co-amoxiclav

7.2 %

(1.8–13.5 %)

1066

5

(5 countries)

37.9 %

[16, 17, 19, 21, 28]

18.1 %

(14.7–21.6 %)

745

2

(2 countries)

8.8 %

[39, 47]

Ciprofloxacin

5.1 %

(0.2–17.8 %)

586

4

(4 countries)

36.0 %

[16, 17, 21, 27]

9.3 %

(3.4–17.2 %)

6231

12

(7 countries)

60.3 %

[37–43, 45–48]

Nitrofurantoin

4.4 %

(0.6–9.3 %)

673

3

(3 countries)

54.4 %

[26, 30, 35]

7.3 %

(5.9–9.7 %)

715

2

(2 countries)

0.0 %

[43, 48]

Ceftazidime

0.3 %

(0.1–0.8 %)

177

4

(4 countries)

0.0 %

[16–18, 21]

5.0 %

(0.7–15.6 %)

654

3

(3 countries)

28.8 %

[36, 39, 47]