Antimicrobial resistance patterns in bacteria causing febrile illness in Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia: a systematic review of published etiological studies from 1980-2015

•A total of 371 articles over 35 years included the target pathogen-drug combinations.•There is an increase in antimicrobial resistance reporting in Africa and Asia.•Pooled proportions of resistance are high for third-generation cephalosporins.•Quinolone resistance in Salmonella enterica is increasing in Asia.•There is a lack of standardization in microbiology laboratory testing and reporting.