This short, straight rod occurs singly, in pairs, and in short chains. It is nonmotile. Gram reaction is negative. Gas is produced from sugars; hydrogen sulfide is not produced. It is an environmental isolate, found in drinking water, surface waters, soil, and sewage. Its presence as a reported pathogen is limited to rare instances of sepsis in patients after severely invasive surgeries. Growth is at 10-37 C.