What is MARCoNS and Why Does It Matter?
MARCoNS stands for Multiple Antibiotic-Resistant Coagulase Negative Staph. It’s a type of staph bacteria that lives deep in the sinuses. About 80% of people with low MSH are dealing with MARCoNS, especially those with biotoxin illness like mold exposure, CIRS, and chronic Lyme.
MARCoNS isn’t exactly an “infection” in the way most people think—it's a colonization of these bacteria, meaning it hides out and causes issues without always causing full-blown sinus symptoms. But here's the problem: it makes toxins that further suppress MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone)—a master hormone that’s already low in CIRS patients. And when MSH drops even more, your body gets stuck in chronic inflammation, leading to things like:
MARCoNS isn’t exactly an “infection” in the way most people think—it's a colonization of these bacteria, meaning it hides out and causes issues without always causing full-blown sinus symptoms. But here's the problem: it makes toxins that further suppress MSH (melanocyte stimulating hormone)—a master hormone that’s already low in CIRS patients. And when MSH drops even more, your body gets stuck in chronic inflammation, leading to things like:
- fatigue and body pain
- brain fog and mood swings
- hormone imbalance
- poor sleep
- frequent urination, dehydration, and static shocks
- Leaky gut, bloating or constipation/diarrhea
It can also drive up inflammatory markers like C4a and TGF-beta 1, keeping your immune system in overdrive.
On top of that, MARCoNS creates a biofilm, a sticky shield that makes it really hard to treat—especially if you’re still living in mold. That’s why it’s important to treat MARCoNS only after you’re out of exposure.
Once you’re in a safe environment, you can treat MARCoNS with tools like BEG spray or Biofilm Clear protocols, depending on your tolerance and labs. This step is essential in the Shoemaker Protocol, because clearing MARCoNS helps your MSH come back up—and when MSH improves, other systems start to stabilize.
If you have low MSH and suspect or know you have CIRS, testing and treating MARCoNS is a key part of your recovery.
- Order the test directly from MicrobiologyDX.com – look for the Nares Culture Swab Kit.
- Once the kit arrives, follow the instructions to collect the swab from deep inside your nostril (you can do this yourself or have a provider assist).
- Send the sample back to the lab in the prepaid envelope.
- Results typically come back within 10–14 days and will show if MARCoNS or other resistant staph bacteria are present, along with antibiotic sensitivities to help guide treatment.
EDTA nasal sprays, BEG spray, BioFilm Clear
- BEG spray is a prescription nasal spray used to treat MARCoNS (Multiple Antibiotic-Resistant Coagulase Negative Staph) in CIRS patients. The name “BEG” stands for its three ingredients:
• Bactroban (mupirocin) – an antibiotic
• Edta – breaks down biofilm so the antibiotics can reach the bacteria
• Gentamicin – another antibiotic targeting resistant staph
BEG spray is prescribed by your Shoemaker Provider. - BioFilm Clear - Biofilm-EDTA spray is a non-prescription nasal spray used to help treat MARCoNS by breaking down the biofilm—a sticky protective layer that bacteria create to shield themselves from treatment.
EDTA helps disrupt the biofilm, making it easier for antimicrobial or natural treatments to reach and eliminate the MARCoNS. While it doesn’t contain antibiotics like BEG spray, it’s a helpful option for people who are sensitive to prescriptions or looking for a gentler, over-the-counter approach to start addressing the sinuses.
When treating MARCoNS, especially with BEG spray or biofilm disruptors like EDTA, you're not just targeting bacteria—you’re breaking up biofilm. That biofilm doesn't just protect bacteria; it also stores toxins.
When you start breaking down that biofilm, those trapped biotoxins get released and mobilized into your system. If you’re not already taking bile sequestrants like cholestyramine (CSM) or Welchol, your body has no effective way to eliminate them.
Instead of being excreted, those toxins recirculate through your bile, get reabsorbed, and can worsen your symptoms, trigger more inflammation, and overwhelm your system.
That’s why it's crucial to be on binders for at least 4–6 weeks before starting MARCoNS treatment. This gives your body a chance to:
When you start breaking down that biofilm, those trapped biotoxins get released and mobilized into your system. If you’re not already taking bile sequestrants like cholestyramine (CSM) or Welchol, your body has no effective way to eliminate them.
Instead of being excreted, those toxins recirculate through your bile, get reabsorbed, and can worsen your symptoms, trigger more inflammation, and overwhelm your system.
That’s why it's crucial to be on binders for at least 4–6 weeks before starting MARCoNS treatment. This gives your body a chance to:
- Open up detox pathways
- Lower the overall toxin load
- Catch and remove mobilized toxins as biofilm breaks down
- Prevent reabsorption and symptom flare-ups
