Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, in Portland, Ore., is reporting a mysterious increase in patient infections caused by central lines  inserted to deliver drugs, fluids or nutrients, The Oregonian/OregonLive has learned.

“This has my full attention,” said Dana Braner, M.D., physician-in-chief at Doernbecher, told The Oregonian. “These children tend to be the sickest and most complex children that a children’s hospital deals with.”

The paper reported: “Though the recent increase is small, ranging from two to five cases a month between September and this past March, the percentage change is great: nearly a five-fold increase compared with the same period the year before.”