A new study shows that the shower heads may be so dirty that instead of washing the body it might be throwing a gush of germs every time one takes a shower.

The study involved inspecting the showerheads of 50 houses in 9 U. S. cities and it was found that they contained high levels of Mycobacterium Avium. This is a group of bacteria capable of causing lung infection when inhaled or swallowed. It was also found that the level of this group of bacteria was 100 times higher than that in any other household water.

This bacteria is related to pulmonary diseases leading to breathlessness and fatigue and causing symptoms like persistent drug cough. It attacks people with a weakened immune system and sometimes even affect healthy people.

Water that comes out of the showerheads can sprinkle pathogen-filled droplets that suspend themselves in the air and can be easily inhaled into the depths of the lungs.

Showers are typically a place where this bacteria harbors because it is a dark, moist place favourable for them to gain foothold and gradually multiply.

"This really shouldn't concern average, healthy people. The main concern is for people who are immune-compromised", researcher Leah Feazel told Reuters Health.

The researchers although added that showerheads are not the only bacterial dispersants at home. They also added that more research needs to be carried out to measure the bacterial levels in houses in other devices like humidifiers and evaporative coolers.