Antibiotic Resistance (mecA)

Antibiotic Resistance (mecA) Overview

The mecA gene encodes an altered penicillin-binding protein (PBP2a) with low affinity for β-lactams; its presence is the genetic hallmark of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci. Detecting mecA in respiratory samples allows rapid identification of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) by PCR (Wielders et al. 2002, Chambers & Deleo 2009).

References:

Wielders, C. L., Fluit, A. C., Brisse, S., Verhoef, J., & Schmitz, F. J. (2002). mecA gene is widely disseminated in Staphylococcus aureus population. Journal of clinical microbiology, 40(11), 3970–3975.

Chambers, H. F., & Deleo, F. R. (2009). Waves of resistance: Staphylococcus aureus in the antibiotic era. Nature reviews. Microbiology, 7(9), 629–641.

Products used to detect Antibiotic Resistance (mecA)

Respiratory PCR Panel – X-Large

The x-large respiratory PCR panel is designed for multiplex in vitro assessment of 25 common respiratory microbiota and resistance markers, using real-time PCR.

Women’s Health PCR Panel – Large

The women’s health large PCR panel is designed for multiplex in vitro assessment of 37 common vaginal microbiota and resistance markers, using real-time PCR.