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 opportunistic pathogen found in feces of man and animals without any symptoms of disease, and in water, sewage, soil, and food. A disease associated with it, ozena, is an upper respiratory infection that leads to necrosis and atrophy of the nasal mucosa and results in copious nasal discharge. Growth is at 35-37 C.