A spike in syphilis and gonorrhoea infections - mainly among gay men - has prompted a warning to Victorian doctors so they can undertake more screening.
Infectious syphilis notifications rose 18 per cent in the first half of 2016 compared with the same time in 2015, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Most of the 536 syphilis cases reported in those six months were men having sex with men (MSM) and nearly half of them were HIV positive.
"The chief health officer has issued advice to clinicians highlighting the increases in syphilis and gonorrhoea and reinforcing screening, along with partner notification and prevention education messages," a health department spokesman told AAP.
A departmental advisory committee on blood-borne viruses and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) has also been set up, with a sub-committee dedicated to responding to the increase in infections.
Gonorrhoea infections jumped 52 per cent - from 3273 cases in 2014 to 4963 cases in 2015 and the trend continued into 2016, with 3222 gonorrhoea cases reported in the first half of the year.
"Although this increase was seen for both men and women, the infection continues to occur primarily among MSM in urban settings," the spokesman said.
According to figures published by DHHS, men aged 20-39 are most likely to contract syphilis or gonorrhoea.
Similar spikes have been reported across Australia, driven by factors such as increased testing and unsafe sex practices, the spokesman said.
The Victorian government is also increasing investment in testing and treatment services, focusing on the rates of chlamydia in young people and syphilis and gonorrhoea in gay and bisexual men.
Victorian AIDS Council chief executive Simon Ruth says gay and bisexual men have been "acutely aware" of the need for regular infection screening since the start of the HIV epidemic.
"We encourage testing four times per year and this leads to higher detection rates for STIs amongst gay men," he told AAP.
He says advancements in antiretroviral therapy had reduced some of the risks of HIV.
"However, these particular advances only protect individuals from HIV, so our central message is that sexually active people need to be tested every three to four months for STIs," Mr Ruth said.
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