\item{col_mo}{column name of the IDs of the microorganisms (see \code{\link[=as.mo]{as.mo()}}), defaults to the first column of class \code{\link{mo}}. Values will be coerced using \code{\link[=as.mo]{as.mo()}}.}
\item{universal_1, universal_2, universal_3, universal_4, universal_5, universal_6}{column names of \strong{broad-spectrum} antibiotics, case-insensitive. At default, the columns containing these antibiotics will be guessed with \code{\link[=guess_ab_col]{guess_ab_col()}}.}
\item{GramPos_1, GramPos_2, GramPos_3, GramPos_4, GramPos_5, GramPos_6}{column names of antibiotics for \strong{Gram-positives}, case-insensitive. At default, the columns containing these antibiotics will be guessed with \code{\link[=guess_ab_col]{guess_ab_col()}}.}
\item{GramNeg_1, GramNeg_2, GramNeg_3, GramNeg_4, GramNeg_5, GramNeg_6}{column names of antibiotics for \strong{Gram-negatives}, case-insensitive. At default, the columns containing these antibiotics will be guessed with \code{\link[=guess_ab_col]{guess_ab_col()}}.}
\item{type}{type to determine weighed isolates; can be \code{"keyantibiotics"} or \code{"points"}, see Details}
\item{ignore_I}{logical to determine whether antibiotic interpretations with \code{"I"} will be ignored when \code{type = "keyantibiotics"}, see Details}
\item{points_threshold}{points until the comparison of key antibiotics will lead to inclusion of an isolate when \code{type = "points"}, see Details}
These function can be used to determine first isolates (see \code{\link[=first_isolate]{first_isolate()}}). Using key antibiotics to determine first isolates is more reliable than without key antibiotics. These selected isolates will then be called first \emph{weighted} isolates.
The function \code{\link[=key_antibiotics]{key_antibiotics()}} returns a character vector with 12 antibiotic results for every isolate. These isolates can then be compared using \code{\link[=key_antibiotics_equal]{key_antibiotics_equal()}}, to check if two isolates have generally the same antibiogram. Missing and invalid values are replaced with a dot (\code{"."}). The \code{\link[=first_isolate]{first_isolate()}} function only uses this function on the same microbial species from the same patient. Using this, an MRSA will be included after a susceptible \emph{S. aureus} (MSSA) found within the same episode (see \code{episode} parameter of \code{\link[=first_isolate]{first_isolate()}}). Without key antibiotic comparison it would not.
At default, the antibiotics that are used for \strong{Gram-positive bacteria} are:
The function \code{\link[=key_antibiotics_equal]{key_antibiotics_equal()}} checks the characters returned by \code{\link[=key_antibiotics]{key_antibiotics()}} for equality, and returns a \code{\link{logical}} vector.
The \link[AMR:lifecycle]{lifecycle} of this function is \strong{stable}. In a stable function, we are largely happy with the unlying code, and major changes are unlikely. This means that the unlying code will generally evolve by adding new arguments; we will avoid removing arguments or changing the meaning of existing arguments.
If the unlying code needs breaking changes, they will occur gradually. To begin with, the function or argument will be deprecated; it will continue to work but will emit an message informing you of the change. Next, typically after at least one newly released version on CRAN, the message will be transformed to an error.
Any difference from S to R (or vice versa) will (re)select an isolate as a first weighted isolate. With \code{ignore_I = FALSE}, also differences from I to S|R (or vice versa) will lead to this. This is a reliable method and 30-35 times faster than method 2. Read more about this in the \code{\link[=key_antibiotics]{key_antibiotics()}} function.
\item Using \code{type = "points"} and parameter \code{points_threshold}
A difference from I to S|R (or vice versa) means 0.5 points, a difference from S to R (or vice versa) means 1 point. When the sum of points exceeds \code{points_threshold}, which default to \code{2}, an isolate will be (re)selected as a first weighted isolate.
On our website \url{https://msberends.gitlab.io/AMR} you can find \href{https://msberends.gitlab.io/AMR/articles/AMR.html}{a comprehensive tutorial} about how to conduct AMR analysis, the \href{https://msberends.gitlab.io/AMR/reference}{complete documentation of all functions} (which reads a lot easier than here in R) and \href{https://msberends.gitlab.io/AMR/articles/WHONET.html}{an example analysis using WHONET data}.