MARCoNS Treatment

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DISCLAIMER: Please note that the information shared here has not been evaluated by the Food & Drug Administration or any other medical body. We do not aim to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease. This information is intended for educational purposes only and should not be interpreted as medical advice or treatment recommendations.

Introduction

“MARCoNS” stands for multiple antibiotic-resistant coagulase-negative staph, which is a bacteria that can reside deep within the nasopharynx—in the back of the sinuses and top of the throat. MARCoNS create biofilms which can trigger ongoing inflammation. MARCoNS are common among CIRS patients when MSH is low. Likewise, MARCoNS will also lower MSH levels.

MARCoNS will also be more common if you have been treated with antibiotics for a month or more. MARCoNS is not an infection, but a “commensal colonization that can become an infection,” according to MicrobiologyDX. MARCoNS is not usually found in normal individuals with intact immune systems.

Because treating MARCoNS increases the toxin and inflammatory burden on the body, it is generally recommended that you are on an effective binder for at least a month before beginning treatment. MARCoNS must be fully eradicated before beginning the final stage of treatment (under the Shoemaker Protocol), which is VIP.

Testing for MARCoNS

Testing for MARCoNS involves having a deep nasal swab done on both nasal passages, and sending the sample to a lab to be cultured. The predominant lab for doing this is MicrobiologyDX in Bedford, MA (USA), run by Dr. Joseph Musto.

Fill out the form here to receive your test kit: https://www.microbiologydx.com/order-collection-kits.

You do not need to be a doctor to order the kit, you just need to input your doctor’s information so that they can receive the test results. You can choose to have the kit mailed to you or to the doctor’s office.

The test kit will include a requisition form. You will need to check off which cultures you want to be performed. The first option is for only MARCoNS; the second option is MARCoNS+Biofilms. If MARCoNS are negative, you will only be charged $85, rather than $185. The third option is for a fungal culture, which is a 30-day culture to detect any fungal infections that could be present in addition to bacteria/MARCoNS. It’s generally very useful to know if a fungal infection is present.

The specific cultures you choose should be a decision made between you and your doctor. You can also call MicrobiologyDX for a free consultation on how to proceed at 781-276-4956.

Also included in the test kit is the collection instructions. Make sure that the practitioner taking the sample understands the procedure and instructions before doing the swab. Also be sure to pay close attention to the packaging instructions for sending the sample back to the lab.

You can also access these materials here: https://www.microbiologydx.com/collection-instructions.

Treating MARCoNS

There are many different ways to treat MARCoNS (and fungal infections), but they all use the same two fundamental means: killing the organisms, and breaking down biofilms that protect the organisms.

Some doctors prefer to use prescription sprays, such as BEG spray (which stands for Bactroban, Edetate Disodium, Gentamicin), EDTA+Silver, and just EDTA on its own. Some doctors find that simply dissolving the biofilms using EDTA alone is enough to eradicate MARCoNS, letting the body’s immune system remove the relatively weak MARCoNS infection once the protective biofilm is removed.

Here is an “at-home” treatment that we are finding works well, and fits with Dr. Musto’s research for a treatment that should be effective for eradicating both MARCoNS and biofilms:

  • NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit - $14.99, can be found at most major stores and drugstores.

  • Micro Balance Citridrops - $33.00, can be purchased here.

  • Argentyn 23 Silver Nasal Spray - $23, can be purchased here.

According to Micro Balance, 8 drops of Citridrops can be added to one full NeilMed sinus rinse bottle. Make sure to also add one packet of NeilMed saline to the bottle. Follow all instructions provided with the NeilMed Sinus Rinse Kit. Always use distilled water to fill the bottle.

According to Dr. Musto, saline inactivates the silver nanoparticles in the silver nasal spray, so you need to space the silver spray away from the saline and Citridrops. E.g., if you use the NeilMed rinse 9am and 9pm, you could use the silver nasal spray 11am and 5pm.

Patients and doctors also report having success with Xlear, a natural xylitol-based, over-the-counter nasal spray, for treating MARCoNS. As always, talk to your doctor to find a plan that works best for you.

Expectations

Eradicating MARCoNS is often not a straightforward process for patients, and patients can have difficulty getting a negative MARCoNS test result. You should expect MARCoNS treatment to take up to 6 months before they are fully eradicated.

Adding more difficulty to the process is the fact that MARCoNS treatment can cause an inflammatory flare and worsened neurological symptoms for CIRS patients, due to the inflammatory compounds and toxins given off from killing the organisms and breaking up biofilms.

This reaction can be reduced by ensuring you are in a clean environment, having been on binders for at least a month, and starting MARCoNS treatment slowly and ramping up dosage over time. Anti-inflammatory supplements—especially fish oil and SPM Active, are also usually recommended by doctors to use while treating MARCoNS. Check our Supplement Guide for some recommendations.