Operational Definitions
The following operational definitions were used to standardize
data abstraction. A failure was defined as the continued occurrence
of clinical illness during (1) the period of follow-up subsequent
to transplantation but before retreatment or (2) during
the period of follow-up subsequent to retreatment. Resolution
was defined as either complete cessation of clinical symptoms or
diagnostic confirmation of the absence of disease, during the
period of follow-up after transplantation. When multiple infusions
were not given as part of a retreatment for failure, they
were counted as part of a single treatment. Resolution after
1 treatment was therefore counted separately from resolution
after retreatment due to failure. A relapse wasdefinedasresolution,
with subsequent return of signs and symptoms during
the follow-up period, and was counted only among patients with
resolution. Deaths were recorded as due to the illness or not, as
reported by the authors. Studies varied in the reporting of the
IMT dosage given to patients. To make use of all available information
related to the amount of donor stool patients were
exposed to in a single infusion, stool weight wasdefinedasthe
quantity (in grams) of donor stool used to make the IMT suspension,
and suspension volume was defined as the volume
(in milliliters) of the IMT suspension infused. Number of infusions
was defined as the number of times donor stool was
infused, not including retreatments when treatment failed.