**1. Introduction**

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most serious global public health threats in this century, which is especially urgent regarding antibiotic resistance in bacteria [1], particularly in *Enterobacterales* [2]. This phenomenon has arisen globally in both nosocomial and community settings as a consequence of widespread antibiotics' consumption [3]. *Enterobacterales* are a large order of different types of bacteria including *Escherichia coli* that commonly cause infections both in healthcare settings and in communities [4]. To survive the effects of antibiotics, some *Enterobacterales* can produce enzymes called extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) that break down and destroy some commonly used antibiotics, including penicillins and cephalosporins, and make these drugs ineffective for treating infections [4]. Over the last decade, many studies have reported the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL)-mediated resistance in Gram-negative bacteria causing infections in patients [5–9]. Infections that can be caused by ESBL-producing bacteria include urinary tract infection (UTI), diarrhea, skin infections, and pneumonia [10]. Possible medications used to treat ESBL infection include carbapenems, which are useful against infections caused by *E. coli* or *Klebsiella pneumoniae* bacteria, fosfomycin, β-lactamase inhibitors, non-β-lactam antibiotics, and colistin when other medications have failed to stop the ESBL infection [10]. Unfortunately, the excessive use of antibiotics, in particular β-lactams, leads to the selection of ESBL-producing strains [11]. Because of the emergence and distribution of multidrug-resistant (MDR) *E. coli* is complicating the treatment of various serious infections [12, 13], the World Health Organization (WHO) has long recognized the need for an improved and coordinated global effort to contain AMR [1]. The burden of AMR, including MDR, varies between the regions; however, low- and middle-income countries share a disproportionate burden due to multitude of factors embedded in the characteristics of the health system, policy, and the practice [14].

In Burkina Faso, there is an emergence of β-lactam-resistant enterobacteria, both in rural and urban areas [9, 15–17]. Otherwise, carbapenemase-encoding genes are widespread in many parts of the world [18]. According to a previous study, carbapenemase-producing *Enterobacterales* (CPE) remain one of the most urgent healthcare threats [2]. To this day, the ESBLs and integrons' genes have been poorly characterized in Burkina Faso, particularly in enteric bacteria in children less than 5 years of age. However, it is imperative that bacterial isolates from underdeveloped regions undergo extensive MDR characterization to inform national strategies designed to halt the continuing spread of these dangerous pathogens [19]. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the resistance of diarrheagenic *E. coli* strains to β-lactams antibiotics and perform the molecular characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) and integrons genes among clinical DEC isolated from stools collected in children less than 5 years of age.
