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In the last decade extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria have become an increasing problem. Our aims were to investigate the prevalence of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and trends in antibiotic use in the county of Östergötland, Sweden. From 2002 through 2007 there were 224 ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and 23 Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates with an ESBL-phenotype identified among all Enterobacteriaceae isolated at the clinical laboratory. Trends in antibiotic consumption expressed as defined daily doses (DDD) per 1000 inhabitants and day (DID) were studied. The prevalence of ESBL-producing isolates among Enterobacteriaceae in our region is still low (<1%). Patients with ESBL-producing E. coli increased significantly ( p < 0.001) from 5 in y 2002 to 47 in y 2007. CTX-M group 1 was the dominant enzyme group in both E. coli and K. pneumoniae. Antibiotic susceptibility testing of ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole revealed that 58% of E. coli and 50% of K. pneumoniae isolates were multi-resistant. Antibiotic use remained unchanged from 2001 through 2009, but there was a trend towards increased use of drugs with low ESBL selection potential, which was probably due to the increased prevalence of ESBL producers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]