<p>Gallium (Ga)-based liquid metals (LM) exhibit high antimicrobial efficacy due to their ability to release Ga³⁺ in situ, which can effectively inhibit the growth of a wide range of bacteria. In this study, a novel photothermal antimicrobial material, MXene@LM, was synthesized via simple electrostatic interactions for the detection and management of methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA). The incorporation of LM not only enhances the local electric field strength and promotes electron transfer on the surface of MXene but also significantly improves the light absorption and photothermal conversion efficiencies of MXene. Consequently, the photothermal antimicrobial properties of MXene@LM are greatly enhanced. Additionally, Ga³⁺ released by LM disrupts bacterial iron metabolism and leads to bacterial death. An electrochemical sensor for the detection of MRSA was successfully constructed based on MXene@LM with an LOD of 949 CFU/mL and applied to a variety of aqueous environments. This study lays an important scientific foundation for the design of novel photothermal antimicrobial materials and shows promising applications in real environments.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>