After filming a music video on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Miley Cyrus said she was recently hospitalized with a knee infection, prompting doctors to weigh in on how certain environments can expose people to harmful bacteria.

On a Thursday episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” Cyrus, 32, recalled the moment she filmed her “Something Beautiful” visual album and then landed in the ICU. 

“I filmed this video in October [2024] by November at Thanksgiving, I was put in the ICU for a moment — just for a moment,” the singer said.

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Cyrus described rolling on the sidewalk as part of her shoot, and shortly after, she developed symptoms that required intensive medical attention.

“I caught something,” she remarked. “My leg began to disintegrate … around the kneecap area. And then the doctor goes, ‘Do you have any idea why you would have such a brutal infection on your kneecap?’”

While the singer did not disclose a specific diagnosis, medical experts say her case is a reminder of how everyday public spaces can present hidden health hazards.

“Strep or staph bacteria are common causes of skin infection like cellulitis.”

Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and Fox News senior medical analyst, noted that extremely aggressive bacteria are not common in urban settings.

“Flesh-eating bacteria on city streets is very rare,” Siegel, who did not treat Cyrus, told Fox News Digital. “Rat urine can cause leptospirosis, a bacteria that causes flu-like symptoms.”

After filming a music video on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Miley Cyrus said she was hospitalized with a knee infection. (iStock)

The doctor said he believes the likely cause was a more typical bacterial infection rather than something exotic, although common bacteria can cause serious skin reactions.

“Strep or staph bacteria are common causes of skin infection like cellulitis,” said Siegel. “Bacteria can be found [on streets], like E. coli, shigella and enterococci, which are from fecal matter, and may get onto the bottoms of shoes,” he added.

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These infections do not typically originate from the street itself, the doctor said, but can develop when skin comes in contact with bacteria, which can happen during close exposure to surfaces like sidewalks.

The risk of infection often increases when the skin is broken or irritated, allowing bacteria to enter the body more easily.

“The best way to keep this from happening is to be fastidious with hygiene,” said an emergency medicine physician. (iStock)

Even minor cuts and scrapes can become gateways for infection when exposed to contaminated surfaces, according to Dr. Ken Perry, an emergency medicine physician in Charleston, South Carolina.

“For most patients, these infections are contracted from open wounds in the skin or some other breach in the skin barrier,” Perry, who also did not treat Cyrus, told Fox News Digital.

Such infections are usually easily treated with common antibiotics, according to the doctor.

While most people do not make close bodily contact with sidewalks and busy streets, even limited exposure can sometimes pose a risk, experts say. (iStock)

Cyrus’ shoot put her in close contact with one of the busiest sidewalks in the country, which doctors say can heighten the danger.

“In the case of Miley Cyrus, she states that she contracted this after rolling around on the ground during the filming of her music video,” said Perry.

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“The foot traffic could easily contaminate the area with bacteria from animal or even human sources,” he hypothesized.

“For the majority of the population, rolling around on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is not common behavior, but even casual interaction could put an individual in contact with harmful bacteria,” Perry added.

Hygiene as a first line of defense

Doctors agree that basic hygiene is one of the best ways to avoid infection, especially in public spaces.

“The best way to keep this from happening is to be fastidious with hygiene,” said Perry.

“We know to wash our hands after being in public to keep from possibly transferring bacteria to the mucus membranes of our eyes, or even ingesting bacteria.”

Experts recommend covering wounds and washing them as soon as possible if exposed to public environments.

Experts recommend covering wounds and washing them as soon as possible if exposed to public environments. (iStock)

“If the cut or scrape occurs while out in public, make sure to wash with soap and water,” Perry advised.  “If an individual has a cut or some break in the skin, it is best to keep it covered, especially when out in public.”

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It is important to seek medical care if there are signs of redness, swelling or drainage, as these could be signs of a worsening bacterial infection, the doctor cautioned.

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Long-term cannabis use in any form has been linked to a greater risk of heart disease.

In a new study, researchers at UC San Francisco determined that eating edible cannabis, such as gummies, has the same impact on cardiovascular risk as smoking marijuana.

The risk stems from reduced blood vessel function, according to the study, which was published in JAMA Cardiology on May 28.

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The study included 55 people between 18 and 50 years of age who were “outwardly healthy.” 

The participants were divided into three groups: those who regularly smoked marijuana, those who ate edibles containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), and those who didn’t use cannabis, according to a UCSF press release.

The cannabis users had been consuming the substance at least three times weekly for at least one year. 

On average, the smokers had the habit for 10 years, while those consuming edibles had been doing so for five years, the release noted.

In September 2024, the participants underwent testing to determine how well their blood vessels functioned and whether the cells lining the blood vessels were affected. 

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All cannabis users were found to have “decreased vascular function,” comparable to those who smoke tobacco.

Their blood vessel function was roughly half compared to those who did not use cannabis.

This side effect has been linked to a higher risk of heart attack, high blood pressure and other cardiovascular conditions, the researchers noted.

Eating edible cannabis, such as gummies, has the same impact on cardiovascular risk as smoking marijuana, researchers say. (iStock)

The participants who smoked marijuana were also found to have changes in their blood serum that harmed cells lining their blood vessels and lymphatic vessels, an effect that was not seen in those who ate edible cannabis.

The researchers noted that while smoking marijuana and consuming edibles both affect vascular function, they likely do so for different reasons.

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“Chronic cannabis smoking and THC ingestion were associated with endothelial dysfunction [impaired functioning of the endothelial cells lining the inside of blood vessels] similar to that observed in tobacco smokers, although apparently occurring via distinct mechanisms,” the researchers wrote.

“This study enhances the understanding of the potential risks to vascular health linked to cannabis use and provides more evidence that cannabis use is not benign.”

All cannabis users were found to have “decreased vascular function,” comparable to those who smoke tobacco. (iStock)

Dr. Bradley Serwer, a Maryland-based cardiologist and chief medical officer at VitalSolution, an Ingenovis Health company that offers cardiovascular and anesthesiology services to hospitals nationwide, said he was not surprised by the study’s findings.

“We have known that the chronic use of THC-containing compounds can have negative health consequences — this study just reaffirms those prior studies,” Serwer, who was not involved in the UCSF research, told Fox News Digital. 

The study did have some limitations.

“Variability in cannabis strains complicates standardization,” the researchers wrote. “Self-reported cannabis use may introduce recall bias; thus, participants were queried at multiple points: in the online survey, at the eligibility interview and before each visit.”

“This study enhances the understanding of the potential risks to vascular health linked to cannabis use and provides more evidence that cannabis use is not benign,” the researchers said. (iStock)

It was also challenging to determine whether blood vessel function could have also been affected by lifestyle factors like stress, caffeine and secondhand smoke exposure, they noted.

Serwer pointed out that this was a “very small” study of only 55 people, all living in the San Francisco Bay area. 

“The decision to use or avoid it should be made with all benefits and risks in mind.”

“The study did not allow for variability in the different strains of cannabis, and they used a self-reporting survey, which can be under- or over-reported,” he told Fox News Digital.

“They looked for physiologic endpoints and not hard endpoints, such as heart attacks, strokes or death. We have to infer that the physiologic endpoints would result in cardiovascular events.”

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The cardiologist said he agreed, however, with the conclusion that cannabis use is “not benign.”

“Chronic use does have potential cardiovascular risks,” he warned. “There are therapeutic uses of cannabis, and the decision to use or avoid it should be made with all benefits and risks in mind.”

“We have known that the chronic use of THC-containing compounds can have negative health consequences — this study just reaffirms those prior studies,” a cardiologist said. (iStock)

In general, Serwer said he cautions all of his patients to avoid any unnecessary cardiac risks. 

“As clinicians, we must weigh the benefits and the risks of a medicine/drug or intervention,” he said. “If the risks outweigh the benefits, it should be avoided.”

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The study was funded mainly by the National Institute on Drug Abuse; the California Department of Cannabis Control; the California Tobacco-Related Disease Program; the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and the FDA Center for Tobacco Products. 

Fox News Digital reached out to cannabis industry organizations requesting comment.