mecA is a gene found in bacterial cells which allows them to be resistant to antibiotics such as methicillin, penicillin and other penicillin-like antibiotics. The bacteria strain most commonly known to carry mecA is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In Staphylococcus species, mecA is spread through the staphylococcal chromosome cassette SCCmec genetic element. Resistant strains cause many hospital-acquired infections.