Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p> <italic>Staphylococcus epidermidis</italic> is an opportunistic bacterium frequently involved in healthcare-associated infections and has become increasingly relevant in One Health when associated with methicillin resistance profile. Despite its significance in human medicine, the circulation of <italic>S. epidermidis</italic> in wildlife still poorly reported. In this study, we communicate the isolation and genomic characterization of a multidrug-resistant <italic>S. epidermidis</italic> Sequence Type 280 isolated from a skin lesion in an illegally traded wild rufous-bellied thrush ( <italic>Turdus rufiventris</italic> ). Antimicrobial susceptibility tests and genome sequencing revealed extensive multidrug resistance, including resistance to methicillin, related to the presence of antimicrobial resistance ( <italic>mecA</italic> ; <italic>blaZ</italic> ; <italic>aadD</italic> ; <italic>aac(6′) − aph(2′′); fosB; erm(C)</italic> and <italic>rpoB</italic> (D471E/I527M)). This finding provides compelling evidence for the global dissemination and ecological plasticity of this clone. Ultimately, this synanthropic sentinel's death related to a methicillin resistant <italic>S. epidermidis</italic> emphasizes the impact that urbanization has on antibiotic resistance, highlighting the need to incorporate wildlife monitoring into One Health surveillance models. </p>