Anne, the (American) Centers for Disease Control developed guidelines to promote a coordinated approach among all providers of maternal and infant care in preventing beta strep infections in neonates. Healthcare providers and hospitals have started testing all prenatal patients for strep, and that is why you are seeing many more cases of treatment. There is a web site where the guidelines are presented: http://www.cdc.gov/epo/mmwr/preview/rr4507.html "May 31, 1996 / Vol. 45 / No. RR-7 Prevention of Perinatal Group B Streptococcal Disease: A Public Health Perspective " Margery Wilson, IBCLC [log in to unmask]