Extraintestinal pathogenic (ExPEC) lineages explain prolonged faecal carriage of travel-acquired extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli

International travel contributes significantly to the spread of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) gene positive Escherichia coli (ESBL-Ec). We investigated bacterial determinants associated with persistence of ESBL-Ec after acquisition during international travel using short- and long read whole genome sequencing. Our results show that sequence type 131 (ST131) and phylogroup D Escherichia coli are overrepresented in long-term carriers (≥12 months) compared to age, sex and travel destination matched short-term carriers (