Genotyping of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus by Assaying for the Presence of Variable Elements Associated with mecA

The region surrounding mecA in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is highly variable. We describe an approach for the rapid genotyping of MRSA by assaying for the presence or absence of variable or mobile elements previously shown to be associated with the mecA region.