First Report of Biofilm-Forming, Multidrug-Resistant Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci from Butcher Tables in Enugu, Nigeria: A Public Health Awareness

Abstract

Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (CoNS) have evolved from commensals to significant opportunistic pathogens, primarily due to their capacity for biofilm formation and the acquisition of multidrug resistance (MDR) genes. In low-resource settings, meat processing surfaces like butcher tables can serve as unrecognized reservoirs for these pathogens. In Enugu, Nigeria, no data exist on the prevalence, biofilm-forming ability, and resistance profiles of CoNS contaminating butcher tables, representing a critical gap in food safety surveillance. This study provides the first report on the biofilm-forming capacity and antibiotic susceptibility of CoNS isolated from butcher tables in Enugu.