Molecular characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolated from lower respiratory tract samples between 2002 and 2019 in the Central Slovenia region.

Our results suggest that the ESBL-EC isolates from LRT do not represent a specific pathotype, but rather resemble other ExPEC isolates, and may be adapted to the hospital environment. To our knowledge, this is the first study of ESBL-EC isolated from LRT samples collected over a long period of time.