A doctor who is showering for 20 minutes after the holidays says: "It will save your life"

A microbiologist shared a simple ritual that he practices every time he comes home from vacation.

Dr. Tom Makin lets his shower run for 20 minutes without entering and, once the shower is off, he does not return to the bathroom for 20 minutes.

The process, he says, is a measure to prevent deadly bacteria from causing life-threatening conditions.

Dr. Makin says that while a person is on vacation, stagnant water from your showerhead can become toxic.

This means that people are more likely to inhale bacteria called Legionella.

Legionella can cause pneumonia and organ failure, which can be fatal.

He said Sunday at the Mail: "I cover my nose and mouth with one hand and I open the shower with the other hand," he explains of his first task when he go home after a break.

"After about 20 minutes, I will close the shower and I will not return to the bathroom for at least 20 minutes."

Leaving in summer increases the risk, as Legionella grows well when the temperature is between 20 and 45 ° C.

Garden hoses and watering systems are also risky.

According to the World Health Organization, legionellosis is increasing, probably because people take showers rather than baths.

It is estimated that 500 Britons contract the disease each year.