MRSA is an abbreviation for Meticillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. Staphylococuss aureus is an oppurtunistic pathogen, meaning that the bacterium can cause infection in people with weak immune systems. MRSA is a bacterium that is resistant to treatments with antibiotics that are similar to the drug Meticillin, the group of antibiotics against which there is resistance are called cephalosporins. These are antibiotics that inhibit the synthesis of the peptidoglycan layer.

MRSA can lead to various infections. MRSA can cause inflammation of the hair follicle, but also of the face, making it red and inflamed. MRSA can also cause invasive infections, which are infections in which MRSA penetrates into underlying tissue or into the bloodstream.

Methicillin resistance relies on the presence of the mecA or mecC gene. MecA is a predetermined gene that isolates methicillin resistance in MRSA. The mecC gene is a homologue of the mecA gene. The mecA and mecC genes encode the production of a modified penicillin binding protein, the PBS-2a protein. This production expresses the mecA gene and/or the mecC gene. The nuc genes encode staphylococcal thermostable nuclease, which is an endonuclease that breaks down both DNA and RNA.

Many detection assays for MRSA target the 3′ end of the ORFX gene and the right extremity of Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCMec). the mecA gene is carried on the SCCmec, based on these interactions and expressions this MRSA PCR kit can detect MRSA in an infected person. There are a total of 13 types of SCCmec, this PCR kit detects types l. – Xl.