Background: The aim of this study was to detect the bacte- ria in vaginal specimens by culture and PCR methods, and performing a comparison between them.

Methods: A total of 354 women (mean age 32.3 ± 4.6 years) were included in this study. Their vaginal specimens were cultured on PALCAM agar medium. Grams staining of grown colonies were then performed. The motility of sus- pected colonies was assessed on SIM medium at 25 and 35 degrees. In addition to SIM medium, the colonies were cul- tured on bile sculin medium, as well. Blue- brown colonies were produced through sculin hydrolysis by Listeria monocyto- genes . Catalase, Oxidase and MR-VP tests were per- formed.The suspected colonies were evaluated by the PCR technique.

Results: Eight samples out of 354 samples were positive for Listeria monocytogenes by culture(2. …