BACKGROUND To investigate the incidence, risk factors, pathogen distribution, and drug resistance patterns in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis (CAPDP). MATERIAL AND METHODS Clinical data for 248 patients who underwent continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) treatment in a single center in China from March 2018 to January 2021 were retrospectively collected. The patients were divided into the CAPDP group (n=40) and the non-CAPDP group (n=208) according to whether peritonitis occurred. The incidence rate, risk factors, bacterial distribution, and drug sensitivity of CAPDP were analyzed. RESULTS The incidence of CAPDP was 16.13%, and 87.5% of patients with CAPDP continued CAPDP treatment after anti-infection treatment. Patients with and without CAPDP were clearly distinguished, on the basis of their clinical characteristics, by using principal component analysis (PCA) methods. Logistic regression analysis found that body mass index (BMI; P=0.0095), albumin (P=0.016), albumin/globulin ratio (P=0.018), C-reactive protein (P=0.0001), and rapid transport (P=0.034) were independent risk factors for CAPDP. The main pathogens causing the CAPDP were Staphylococcus epidermidis (50.00%), Staphylococcus capitis (13.33%), and Escherichia coli (10.00%). Among the pathogenic bacteria, the main drugs to which gram-negative cocci were sensitive were imipenem, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, cefoperazone/sulbactam, ceftazidime, and tigecycline. The main drugs to which gram-positive cocci were sensitive were vancomycin, teicoplanin, and linezolid. The drug resistance rate of pathogenic bacteria to penicillin G, ampicillin, compound trimethoprim, cefepime, ceftriaxone, and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid drugs was 36.26-100%. CONCLUSIONS BMI, albumin, albumin/globulin ratio, C-reactive protein, and rapid transport are independent risk factors for CAPDP. Gram-positive bacteria are the main pathogens of CAPDP and are sensitive to vancomycin, teicoplanin, and linezolid.